TRANSPORT

Motoring Costs

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the estimates that he has made of the external costs associated with private motoring, with particular reference to the environmental costs.

David Jamieson: A study commissioned by my Department from the Institute for Transport Studies* at the University of Leeds made the following estimates of the marginal external social costs of car use per vehicle kilometre in Great Britain:
	(a) Congestion costs: 9.0 to 10.4 pence/km
	(b) Accident costs : 0.79 to 1.38 pence/km
	(c) Air pollution costs: 0.18 to 0.88 pence/km
	(d) Noise pollution costs: 0.01 to 0.52 pence/km
	(e) Climate change costs: 0.12 to 0.47 pence/km
	* 'Surface Transport Costs and Charges', Great Britain 1998, Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds, July 2001, page 49.

Accident Statistics

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) accidents and (b) fatalities were recorded on the A259 between (i) Hastings and Bexhill and (ii) Bexhill and Pevensey, with particular reference to King Offa Way, Bexhill, in each year since 1997.

David Jamieson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Tim Matthews, to write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Tim. Matthews to Gregory Barker, dated 11 March 2003
	I have been asked by David Jamieson to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about how many (a) accidents and (b) fatalities were recorded on the A259 between (i) Hastings and Bexhill and (ii) Bexhill and Pevensey in each year since 1997.
	The statistics for injury accidents are shown in the attached annex. If you would like further information about accident issues on these sections of the A259 the Area Manager, Mark Kumar, at our Dorking office would be pleased to help you. His telephone number is 01306 878115.
	
		Injury accidents
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Total 
		
		
			  A259 between Hastings and Bexhill (B2092 to B2182 Cooden Sea Road) 
			 Fatal 2 0 1 0 1 4 
			 Serious 3 5 1 3 3 15 
			 Slight 14 21 21 11 45 112 
			 Total 19 26 23 14 49 131 
			 A259 between Bexhill and Pevensey (B2182 Cooden Sea Road to junction with A27) (including figures for King Offa Way) 
			 Fatal 0 0 0 1 J 2 
			 Serious 1 4 5 1 2 13 
			 Slight 8 9 6 7 16 46 
			 Total 9 13 11 9 19 61 
			   
			  A259 King Offa Way (from the De La Warr Road to London Road) 
			 Fatal 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Serious 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Slight 0 8 9 6 8 31 
			 Total 0 8 9 7 8 32 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures for 2002 are not yet available.

Central Railway

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the status of the Central Railway project.

David Jamieson: We are considering carefully Central Railway's proposals and will respond to Central Railway in due course.

Travel Passes

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what publicity is (a) being given and (b) planned to the change in eligibility for the travel pass for elderly people from 1 April (i) in London and (ii) elsewhere; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The DTLR Press Release 2002/0069 of 27 February 2002 gave details of the contents of the Travel Concessions (Eligibility) Act 2002 directly it received Royal Assent. The DfT will issue a further Press Release within the next two weeks to again publicise that from 1 April 2003 men will become eligible for travel concessions at the same age as women.
	Responsibility for local publicity to inform the public about the change in eligibility for the travel pass for elderly people lies with the local authorities or Passenger Transport Executives. The Local Government Association has alerted its members to the change and reminded them that they may wish to advertise appropriate local advance application arrangements.

Ministerial Trips

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the overseas trips made by himself and other members of his ministerial team in 2002; and what the (a) purpose and (b) cost was in each case.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 22 January 2003, Official Report, column 334W, in response to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws)

Motorways

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the (a) benefits and (b) costs of privatising English motorways; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: No detailed assessment of the costs and benefits of privatising England's motorways has been made.
	In 1999 the Next Steps Review of the Highways Agency looked briefly at the possibility of privatisation as part of the 'prior options review' that re-examined the case for Agency status. These reviews are routine. The report (published in July 1999) concluded that privatisation could only be an option for the future when a number of issues had been resolved including the identification of a secure revenue stream.

Railways

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many stations have achieved safer station status; and how many will achieve safer station status in each of the next three years.

David Jamieson: There are currently 170 stations accredited under the Secure Stations Scheme. The Scheme is voluntary and the Department has not set any targets for the number of stations to be accredited under the Scheme. It is up to the Train Operating Companies to decide which of their stations to put through the Scheme's accreditation process.

Railways

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what Strategic Rail Authority resources are available for station improvements, including safety improvements, in each of the next five years.

David Jamieson: The Authority's Strategic Plan, a copy of which is in the House Library, explains their current investment priorities in detail.

Railways

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the adequacy of data collection concerning perceptions of passenger safety on the railways.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority's twice yearly "National Passenger Survey" includes questions on passengers' perceptions of safety. The survey is carried out to an approved methodology in accordance with Market Research Society codes of conduct.

Railways

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research he has conducted into the extent to which environmental factors, with particular reference to (a) litter on tracks and (b) graffiti in stations, influence perceptions of safety and customer satisfaction among users of the railways.

David Jamieson: The National Passenger Survey measures for each train operating company the most important areas of concern for passengers. Details of the results of the surveys are contained in the Strategic Rail Authority's publication, "On Track", copies of which are in the Libraries of the House.

Railways

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who would conduct (a) an inquiry into a rail accident and (b) a criminal investigation into a criminal act on the (i) Folkestone, Dymchurch and Hythe Railway, (ii) Bluebell Railway, (iii) Didcot Railway, (iv) Heritage Railway and (v) Rail Mail under the provisions of the Railways and Transport Safety Bill.

David Jamieson: The provisions of the Railways and Transport Safety Bill will create an independent Rail Accident Investigation Branch that will investigate serious railway accidents and which may investigate a non-serious railway accident or railway incident on (i)-(v) above.
	An investigation into a general criminal act on (i)-(iv) above would normally be undertaken by the Home Office police, rather than the BTP. An investigation in to a general criminal act on (v) would normally be undertaken by the BTP if it took place on the national rail network.
	Health and safety related criminal acts would be investigated by the Health and Safety Executive in respect of (i)-(v).

Road Improvements

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list road improvement schemes managed by the Highways Agency in (a) the Kent, East Sussex and West Sussex area and (b) England in each year since 1997, together with the cost of each scheme; and which schemes are awaiting action.

David Jamieson: There are many small improvement schemes carried out each year and it is not possible to list them all here. A table listing the major road improvement schemes completed by the Highways Agency since 1997, as well as those schemes being progressed as part of the Targeted Programme of Improvements (TPI) in (a) the Kent, East Sussex and West Sussex area and (b) England, together with the cost of each scheme has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Road Improvements

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding was allocated to the Highways Agency for road improvement schemes in (a) the Kent, East Sussex and West Sussex area and (b) England in each year since 1997.

David Jamieson: Funding for road improvement schemes is not allocated on a county by county basis. The total funding allocated for road improvement schemes in England in each year since 1997 is listed in the following table:
	
		
			 Year £ million 
		
		
			 1997–98 901 
			 1998–99 7 14 
			 1999–2000 663 
			 2000–01 677 
			 2001–02 837 
			 2002–03 939

Road User Charging

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what work he has asked the Highways Agency to do to develop a policy for road user charging for inter-urban motorway and trunk roads since 1 July 2002.

David Jamieson: None.

Road User Charging

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the objectives of road-user charging.

David Jamieson: Road-user charging is one of a number of measures that a local authority can use to assist in managing congestion.

Rolling Stock

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the safety risks associated with the delay in the replacement of Mark I carriages.

David Jamieson: The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) decision to accept an exemption application from three South East train operators to run Mark 1 stock without an 'override preventing' safety modification was taken in light of the accelerated Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) fitment programme that was agreed between the HSE and the industry. TPWS mitigates some of the risks associated with this type of rolling stock by reducing the risk of collision caused by signals passed at danger.
	The Strategic Rail Authority is currently discussing the delay in replacing some Mark 1 stock with the HSE, including the safety implications.

Smoking

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what policy his Department has adopted on smoking in the workplace.

David Jamieson: The Department for Transport operates a no smoking policy except in certain specifically designated smoking rooms.

South Central Line

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what timescale the Strategic Rail Authority estimates for the power upgrade of the South Central line to accommodate the Bombardier Electrostar trains;
	(2)  what date of completion he estimates for the power upgrade for the South Central line.

David Jamieson: Contract work to lay cables has already commenced and it is estimated that work will be completed by 2005.

Train Services (Macclesfield and Stoke)

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority on the reduction of train services to Macclesfield and Stoke as part of the Strategic Rail Authority's plans for a higher speed service between London and Manchester.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority is currently considering responses to its draft strategy to deliver the West Coast Route Modernisation project and expects to finalise the strategy shortly.

Vehicle Inspectorate

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes he plans in the organisation of the Vehicle Inspectorate; what representations he has received; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 23 July 2002, Official Report, columns 964–65W, and the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State on 15 October 2002, Official Report, columns 714–15W. From 1 April 2003 the Vehicle Inspectorate (VI) and the Traffic Area Network (TAN) will merge to form a new agency to be known as the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA). There will be little change in the organisation of VI immediately as VI and TAN will work as two operating divisions of VOSA. There will be a progressive integration of activities and services over the following months.

West Coast Main Line

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the level of rail service to (a) Macclesfield and (b) Stoke-on-Trent, following (i) the upgrade of the West Coast Mainline in 2004 and (ii) the introduction of the half hourly London to Manchester service.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority is currently considering responses to its draft Strategy to deliver the West Coast Route Modernisation project and expects to finalise the Strategy shortly.

SCOTLAND

A1 (Dualling)

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions she has had with the Scottish Executive about the dualling of the A1 from Edinburgh to Newcastle.

Anne McGuire: My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with Scottish Ministers on a variety of transport matters. There is dialogue between the Government, its agencies and the Scottish Executive on cross-border routes. I understand officials of the Highways Agency and the Scottish Executive were due to meet yesterday to discuss progress on current schemes and take forward detailed planning for future improvement works on the A1.

Common Fisheries Policy

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations she has received on reform of the common fisheries policy; and if she will make a statement.

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations she has received on reform of the common fisheries policy; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Liddell: I have received direct representations on issues relating to the common fisheries policy from the Scottish Fishermen's Federation.
	The European Commission adopted a Green Paper on the common fisheries policy in March 2001 and subsequently brought forward specific proposals for reforming the policy. These proposals were discussed at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in December 2002. Her Majesty's Government welcomes the package of reforms that the Council decided to adopt.

Manufacturing Industry

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with the First Minister about prospects for manufacturing industry in Scotland.

Helen Liddell: I have regular discussions with the First Minister on a wide range of matters. Scottish Executive Ministers recently received a report from the Scottish Manufacturing Steering Group and I have undertaken to assist in securing consideration by the relevant Government Departments of recommendations in the report relating to reserved matters.

Broadband Services

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps she is taking to ensure that (a) rural and (b) urban areas in Scotland have equal access to broadband services.

Anne McGuire: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 4 February 2003, Official Report, column 131W.

Sunday Working

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment she has made of the impact of the Sunday Working (Scotland) Bill on workers in Scotland.

Anne McGuire: Our Regulatory Impact Assessment, published on 7 February 2003, set out the likely impact, costs and benefits of the Sunday Working (Scotland) Bill on workers in Scotland.

Unemployment Figures

Ernie Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the latest unemployment figures for Scotland.

Helen Liddell: The latest figures show that employment in Scotland is around its highest ever level. Unemployment is at its lowest level since the mid-1970s, and since 1997, youth and long-term unemployment have both fallen by almost 80 per cent. The Government's management of the economy is driving down unemployment and establishing solid foundations for achieving high and sustainable levels of growth and employment.

TREASURY

Euro

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether the five economic tests for determining whether there is a clear and unambiguous case for UK membership of the euro will be applied separately to the economies of (a) overseas territories and (b) Guernsey;
	(2)  if the five economic tests for determining whether there is a clear and unambiguous case for UK membership of the EMU will be applied separately to the economy of the Bailiwick of Jersey.

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Rosindell) of 25 February 2003, Official Report, column 383W, on Gibraltar, whether the Treasury's five economic tests take account of the effects of membership of the Eurozone on the UK's crown dependencies.

Ruth Kelly: Under Article 299(6)(c) of the EC Treaty, read together with the treaty of Accession, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man are outside the scope of the EC Treaty for the purposes of EMU.

Euro

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the White Paper, "Meeting the Challenge: Economic Reform in Europe" with the second economic test for entry to the euro.

Ruth Kelly: A comprehensive and rigorous assessment of the five economic tests will be completed within two years of the start of this Parliament.
	As we said in "Meeting the Challenge: Economic Reform in Europe", published in February 2003, "The Government will continue to argue that employability, flexibility and stronger competition policies must be a top priority, so that EMU can be sustained success".

Lorry Charging

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his policy on lorry road user charging.

John Healey: As announced in Budget 2002, the Government intend to introduce a lorry road-user charge based on distance travelled. The Government remain committed to ensuring that the UK haulage industry will not have to pay more tax as a result of introducing the charge and will also introduce offsetting tax reductions for the industry.
	The Government published their first progress report in April 2002, and will shortly publish a second progress report outlining the results of work on how to implement and procure the lorry road-user charge and offsetting tax cuts.

Award Schemes

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the award schemes in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 promoted by the Department; what their scope was when the relevant participating organisations are scheduled to be sent results; and whether other parties will be given notification of the results at the same time.

Ruth Kelly: The Treasury has no award schemes.

Bingo

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what plans he has to retain standard rate VAT on participation fees under the new gross profits tax system for bingo;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the impact of a gross profits tax system on the opportunity for growth for licensed bingo clubs;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the benefits change from bingo duty to gross profits tax will bring for (a) bingo players and (b) licensed bingo clubs;
	(4)  what plans he has to reduce the tax burden on licensed bingo.

John Healey: As with other tax changes, and as discussed in the Pre-Budget Report, changes to the taxation of bingo will be announced in the Budget.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 5 February from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to parishioners of St. James with the Holy Innocents.

John Healey: I have already done so.

Fuel Tax

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the annual income from fuel duties in each year from 1973.

John Healey: Duty receipts for hydrocarbon oils since 1973 are shown in the table:
	
		Oil Receipts
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1973–74 1,586 
			 1974–75 1,550 
			 1975–76 1,543 
			 1976–77 2,066 
			 1977–78 2,465 
			 1978–79 2,467 
			 1979–80 2,931 
			 1980–81 3,581 
			 1981–82 4,643 
			 1982–83 5,239 
			 1983–84 5,605 
			 1984–85 6,201 
			 1985–86 6,395 
			 1986–87 7,507 
			 1987–88 7,810 
			 1988–89 8,679 
			 1989–90 8,728 
			 1990–91 9,628 
			 1991–92 11,003 
			 1992–93 11,442 
			 1993–94 12,742 
			 1994–95 14,253 
			 1995–96 15,679 
			 1996–97 17,174 
			 1997–98 19,454 
			 1998–99 21,553 
			 1999–2000 22,515 
			 2000–01 22,623 
			 2001–02 21,916

Individual Savings Accounts

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what research he has commissioned to gauge the take-up of ISAs amongst new investors;
	(2)  how many investors have opened ISA accounts who did not previously hold a PEP or TESSA; and how much money has been invested in ISA accounts by investors who previously did not hold a PEP or TESSA;
	(3)  how many people have taken out an ISA in each year since 1998;
	(4)  what targets he has set regarding the uptake of ISAs in the UK.

Ruth Kelly: The table gives available estimates of the number of individuals who held ISAs in the first three years following their introduction in 1999. It is not yet possible to break down these estimates further into how many previously held either a TESSA or PEP.
	
		Number of individuals holding ISAs -- millions
		
			 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			  
			  
			 8.5 12.5 14.0 
		
	
	The Government has no official target regarding the uptake of ISAs in the UK. However, ISAs are intended to give plenty of scope for people to begin saving, and for those who already save to save more. Since ISAs began in April 1999, over £100 billion has already been subscribed to them and within three years of their introduction an estimated 14 million individuals—some one in four adults—had an ISA. This is six million more than had either a TESSA or a PEP in 1998–99, their last and most successful year.
	The Inland Revenue is currently analysing administrative data collected for compliance purposes to see if it could be used to give further detail on individual investors, including whether or not they previously held a TESSA or PEP. It is hoped that further estimates may be available later this year.

International Monetary Fund

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions officials from his Department have had with representatives of the International Monetary Fund concerning (a) Britain's fiscal policies and (b) the sustainability of Britain's fiscal stance in (i) the short-term, (ii) the medium-term and (iii) the long-term.

Ruth Kelly: The IMF mission visited the UK last year for the 2002 Article IV consultation. The concluding statement was published on 9 December. The Article IV discussions covered a wide range of issues, including UK fiscal policy. The final Article IV report, summarising the discussions, was published on 3 March.

International Monetary Fund

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the IMF's assessment of the medium-term widening of the fiscal deficit, as set out in the 2002 Article IV Consultation Report.

Ruth Kelly: The public finances remain strong and the Government are on track to meet their strict fiscal rules over the economic cycle. Modest levels of borrowing over the medium term reflect a sustained increase in capital investment of public services.

Manufacturing

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions his Department has had with representatives of the Engineering Employers' Federation on (a) insurance cover against remote risks, (b) the level of manufacturing investment and (c) manufacturing growth rates.

John Healey: The Chancellor and other Treasury Ministers regularly meet representatives from the manufacturing sector, including the Engineering Employers Federation, and discuss a wide range of issues.

Manufacturing

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 28 February 2003, Official Report, column 1568W, whether he intends to extend the period of allowances for investments in plant and machinery; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: As I said my answer of 28 February, the Government keep all taxes under review and any changes to taxation will be announced in the Budget statement on 9 April 2003.

Oil and Petroleum Revenue

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the Government's revenue receipts on a monthly basis since January 2002 arising from (a) sales of petrol, (b) sales of the petroleum products and (c) North Sea oil production.

Paul Boateng: holding answer 7 March 2003
	Monthly receipts data for petroleum revenue tax, hydrocarbon oils and oil royalties are shown in Tables 2.1C, 2.1D and 2.1E respectively of the National Statistics publication Financial Statistics. Table 2.1E is in the process of being corrected; the correct monthly figures for oil royalties in 2002 will be published in the March edition of Financial Statistics on 19 March 2003 and are as shown in the following table, in £ million.
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 January 0 
			 February 248 
			 March 10 
			 April 4 
			 May 0 
			 June 0 
			 July 0 
			 August 230 
			 September 4 
			 October 0 
			 November 5 
			 December 0 
		
	
	More up to date information on petroleum revenue tax and hydrocarbon oils receipts are available, respectively, on the Inland Revenue website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk, and on the HM Customs and Excise website www.uktradeinfo.com. Figures for North Sea corporation tax are only published on a financial year basis and are available on the Inland Revenue website. There are no published figures for VAT on petroleum products.

Overseas Trips

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the overseas trips made by himself and other members of his ministerial team in 2002; and what the (a) purpose and (b) cost was in each case.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 22 January 2003, Official Report, column 334W.

Pensions

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the yearly taxation revenue accruing from the taxation of occupational pension fund surpluses since the tax's inception.

Ruth Kelly: Available estimates from 1987–88 to 2001–02 are contained in the table.
	
		Taxation on refunds by funds to employers in connection with pension fund surpluses
		
			 Year Amount of tax (£ million) 
		
		
			 1987–88 34 
			 1988–89 83 
			 1989–90 182 
			 1990–91 231 
			 1991–92 161 
			 1992–93 94 
			 1993–94 45 
			 1994–95 27 
			 1995–96 16 
			 1996–97 40 
			 1997–98 20 
			 1998–99 29 
			 1999–2000 25 
			 2000–01(1) 30 
			 2001–02(1) 110 
		
	
	(1) Provisional

Pensions

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) civil servants and (b) Ministers would have had a pension entitlement in 2001–02 in excess of the limit proposed in the consultation document Simplifying the Taxation of Pensions-Increasing Choice and Flexibility for All.

Ruth Kelly: The value of a person's pension funds will depend upon accrued entitlement both in an individual's current job, and in any previous employment. This information is not held centrally for civil servants and Ministers and the information could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Research and Development

Richard Spring: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of Britain's GDP was spent on research and development in the last year for which figures are available; and what assessment he has made of the average proportion of GDP spent on Research and Development in (a) the EU, (b) Japan and (c) the United States of America.

John Healey: The most up-to-date figures taken from OECD Main Science and Technology Indicators 2002/2 for General Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) as a percentage of GDP are as follows:
	For the year 2000:
	UK: 1.85 per cent.
	EU: 1.88 per cent.
	Japan: 2.98 per cent.
	USA: 2.72 per cent.

Savings Products

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will make a statement about the future of saving products in the UK;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the barriers to entry to the savings market for lower income households; and what steps the Government has taken to eradicate these barriers;
	(3)  what the Government's (a) short, (b) medium and (c) long-term aims are for saving in the United Kingdom, what targets he has set for his savings policy; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what steps he is taking to boost savings by individuals who do not hold a bank account; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: Savings provide individuals with security, independence and opportunity throughout life. A number of barriers may prevent individuals, particularly those from low and moderate-income households, from making optimal saving decisions. These include factors such as lack of trust in financial services providers, complexity of products resulting in a costly system of advice and sales regulation, lack of clear financial information and the capability to process the information. The Government's saving strategy takes these factors into account and is focused on:
	improving the environment for saving, with macroeconomic stability and an efficient and well regulated market in financial services; creating the right incentives for saving, assisting those on lower incomes and ensuring that taxes and benefits reward, rather than penalise, savers; empowering individuals with financial information, improved access to advice, and simpler and easier to understand savings products; and developing saving products suitable for each stage in a person's life cycle. As the scale of saving increases, proceeds from one product may be rolled into the next, helping people to progress up the savings ladder.
	Progress has been made across all these fronts. For example:
	a radically new regulatory regime was created by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2001 which replaced ten different regulators with a single regulator, the FSA, covering the whole financial services market.
	All the high street banks now offer basic bank accounts that are free to open and run. Universal Banking Services will improve the environment for saving, with macroeconomic stability and an efficient and well regulated market in financial services; create the right incentives for saving, assisting those on lower incomes and ensure that taxes and benefits reward, rather than penalise, savers; empower individuals with financial information, improved access to advice, and simpler and easier to understand savings products; and develop saving products suitable for each stage in a person's life cycle. As the scale of saving increases, proceeds from one product may be rolled into the next, helping people to progress up the savings ladder.
	Universal Banking Services, which will be operational from April 2003, will ensure that access to basic bank accounts will be available over Post Office counters.
	Since their launch in 1999, Individual Savings Accounts have helped to make saving, and the benefits of saving, simple for ordinary investors to understand. Around 14 million people have an ISA. The Government is taking forward the recommendation of the Sandler review for the development of a suite of simple, low cost, risk-controlled 'stakeholder' investment products aimed at low and medium income investors and sold through a simplified sales regime.
	Pilots for the Saving Gateway, an account designed to provide transparent incentives to save for low-income individuals, including those who may not own any other financial products, were launched in August 2002. Tailored financial information and education are provided alongside Saving Gateway accounts to help individuals make informed saving choices.
	The Government is continuing to develop details of the Child Trust Fund, which will offer all families an account in which to save for their children, with every child receiving an endowment from the Government. The Child Trust will reinforce financial education delivered through the national curriculum and other channels.
	The Government is consulting widely on the Pensions Green Paper proposals to enable those of working age to plan more effectively for a secure retirement. Related to this, the Government has set out proposals to simplify radically the taxation of pensions, which will enable people to make clearer and more confident decisions about retirement saving.
	Statements on the progress of the Government's saving policies will be provided in the Budget.

Tax Revenues

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions officials from his Department have had with (a) the Governor of the Bank of England, (b) members of the Monetary Policy Committee and (c) representatives of the Bank of England concerning their assessment of the strength of the growth of tax revenues; and what the outcome was of these discussions.

Paul Boateng: The Chancellor and the Governor meet regularly to discuss a wide range of issues. In addition, the Treasury representative to the MPC regularly briefs MPC members on fiscal issues.

Financial Sector Green Paper

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when his Department began work on the Green Paper, "The Financial System and Major Operational Disruption".

Ruth Kelly: The Green Paper, "The Financial System and Major Operational Disruption", marks the latest stage of one part of the on-going work that has been undertaken by my Department to help strengthen financial sector resilience since the events of 11 September 2001.

Iraq

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the possible implications for the British economy of involvement of the UK in a war in Iraq.

Paul Boateng: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien) on 24 February 2003, Official Report, column 216W.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Departmental Administrative Errors

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the fine imposed by the European Commission on her Department for administrative errors.

Elliot Morley: By decision 2003/102/EC of 14 February 2003 the European Commission excluded 14.84m of UK expenditure from reimbursement by the European Community, on the grounds that it was not effected in accordance with Community rules. Of this, 14m was due to shortcomings in the operation of the beef subsidy schemes, 492,000 to shortcomings in checks on carcases accepted into public storage and 55,000 to failures to comply with payment deadlines. These sums relate mainly, but not entirely, to CAP schemes administered by the Rural Payments Agency, which is an executive agency of Defra.
	The livestock penalties largely relate to a lack of cross checks between bovine subsidy claims and the computerised cattle registration database in the marketing year 2000–01, coupled with an incomplete programme of on-farm inspections. The FMD outbreak was a factor in both cases. Automatic cross checks between the computerised cattle database and bovine subsidy claims have now been established.
	The shortcomings in public storage relate to the acceptance for intervention storage of certain incorrectly classified carcases by Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) inspectors in Northern Ireland in 1998. It has since been arranged that LMC inspectors liaise more closely with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Northern Ireland (DARDNI) inspectors. Unannounced on-the-spot controls by RPA technical inspectors have also been introduced, in agreement with DARDNI.
	The remaining penalties relate to the failure to make within the regulatory deadlines some payments for maize during the marketing year 2000–01 and some payments for set-aside during the marketing year 1999–00. In England, instructions to staff have been reviewed and reinforced to stress the payment deadlines and the need for timely processing. In the current EAGGF year almost 99 per cent. of main AAPS payments were made to producers in England by the payment deadline date of 31 January 2003.
	The UK Government regrets that any of its expenditure should be subject to disallowance. However, in the most recent report of the European Court of Auditors, relating to the calendar year 2001, the UK was the only member state to receive a net credit from disallowance decisions. Furthermore, this decision represents only about half of one percent of agricultural expenditure in the UK funded by the Community each year.

Animal By-products

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what additional resources have been available to local authorities to enable them to police the disposal of animal by-products material in each of the last five years.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 4 March 2003
	No additional resources have been made available to local authorities to enable them to police the disposal of animal by-products.
	However, we are continuing to fund additional work undertaken by local authorities as a result of the foot and mouth disease outbreak. This may, by implication, include enforcement work regarding the disposal of animal by-products e.g. disposal of carcases.

Animal By-products

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on the animal carcase (a) rendering and (b) incineration industries and the market share of companies involved within them;
	(2)  what recent representations and discussions she has had regarding the (a) rendering and (b) animal carcase and animal products incineration industry with (i) individuals, (ii) lobby groups, (iii) companies and (iv) other bodies.

Elliot Morley: The Department regulates outlets that deal with animal by-products, such as rendering and incineration plants. Officials are, therefore, involved in regular discussions with those industries and other interested parties, both informally and on a more formal, consultative basis.
	The Department does not hold information regarding the market share of the companies involved in the animal by-product industry.

Animal By-products

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list those companies with which her Department and its agencies have signed contracts to incinerate animal carcases under the over 30 months scheme in each year since 1996.

Alun Michael: The following lists give details of the companies contracted by the Rural Payments Agency to incinerate over thirty month scheme animal carcases for each year 1996 to date.
	1996
	SAC Veterinary Services, Cleeve Gardens, Oakbank Road, Perth, PH1 1HF.
	Gluttons (Agricultural), Tyddyn Daniel, Marchwiel, Wrexham, Clwyd.
	Wessex Incineration, Roewood, West Woodlands, Nr. Frome, Somerset, BA11 5EN.
	Tellams Incineration, Valley View, Woodlands, Cheriton Bishop, Exeter, Devon, EX6 6HH.
	The Cambridge Pet Crematorium, A505 Main Road, Thriplow Heath, Nr Royston, Herts, SG8 7RR.
	Crawley Abattoir (Sussex) Ltd., Forge Farm, Steers Lane, Tinsley Green, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 3NP.
	A. Lawton, Birch House, Birch Vale, New Mills, Stockport, Cheshire, SK12 3DH.
	Harry Hawkins and Partners, Chates Farm, Cowfold, Horsham, West Sussex, RH138DU.
	Tom Goddard and Sons, Camrose Incineration, Causeway Factory, Camrose, Haverfordwest, Pembs, Dyfed, SA62 6HG.
	University of Bristol, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, School of Medical Sciences, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD.
	Companions Rest (Animal Crematorium), Pheonix House, Stoke Road, Elmstone Hardwicke, Cheltenham, Gloucester, GL51 9SY.
	Incineration South West Limited, Stoneybridge, Pengover Road, Liskeard, Cornwall, PL14 3NH.
	Durga Environmental Ltd., 9 Green Lane, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 9DP (letter of intent signed 1996, contract signed 1998).
	Euromet, 54–58 High Street, Edgware, Middlesex, HA8 7EJ (letter of intent signed 1996, contract signed 1998).
	Sacone Environmental Ltd., c/o The Abattoir, Montrose Road, Brechin, DD9 7PL (letter of intent signed 1997, contract signed 1998).
	Bronzeoak Ltd., The Beeches, Gravelly Hill, Caterham, Surrey, CR3 6ES (letter of intent signed 1996, contract signed 1998).
	Bronzeoak Thermal Processing Ltd., 5 Godstone Road, Caterham, Surrey, CR3 6ES (letter of intent signed 1996, contract signed 1998).
	WRE Services Ltd, 2 The Embankment, Sovereign Street, Leeds, LS1 4BG (letter of intent signed 1996, contract signed 1998).
	1998
	Ottery Abattoir Ltd., Raxhayes Farm, Ottery St. Mary, Devon EX11 1PQ.
	Hamilton Irvine Ltd., Murdoch Place, Oldhall West Industrial Estate, Irvine, KA11 5DG.
	Cremtor, Greycote Lane, Forches Cross, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 6PY.
	1999
	Westcot Hides Ltd., 15/23 Westerburn Street, Shettleston, Glasgow G32 9AT.
	Incineration Scotland, Mosspark, Annan Road, Dumfries, DG1 4PH.
	2000
	C&S Murphy, Douglasbrae Knackery, Tarnash House, Tarnash, Keith, Banffshire, AB55 5PB.
	Peake (GB) Ltd., Stoneybridge Park, Liskeard, Cornwall, PL14 3NQ.
	Wessex Incineration, Roewood, West Woodlands, Nr. Frome, Somerset, BA11 5EN.
	The Cambridge Pet Crematorium, A505 Main Road, Thriplow Heath, Nr. Royston, Herts, SG8 7RR.
	F. Redfern and Sons Ltd., Haslin Abattoir, Buxton, SK17 9HT.
	Tellams Incineration, Valley View, Woodlands, Cheriton Bishop, Exeter, Devon, EX6 6HH.
	Tom Goddard and Sons, Camrose Incineration, Causeway Factory, Camrose, Haverfordwest, Pembs, Dyfed, SA62 6HG.
	Animal Waste Services Ltd., Upper Office, Tyddyn Daniel, Marchwiel, Wrexham, LL13 0TS.
	North East Incineration Services, Tarnash House, Tarnash, Keith, Banffshire, AB55 5PB.
	Hamilton (Irvine) Ltd, Oldhall West Industrial Estate, Irvine, Ayrshire, KA11 5DG.
	Incineration Scotland, Mosspark, Annan Road, Dumfries, DG1 4PH.
	2001
	Mrs. S. Williams, T/A Cremtor, Greycote Lane, Forches Cross, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 6PX.
	A. Lawton, Birch House, Birch Vale, New Mills, Stockport, Cheshire, SK12 3DH.
	Harry Hawkins and Partners, Chates Farm, Cowfold, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 8DU.
	Mr. F. J. and Mrs. P. W. Hayman, Raxhayes Farm, Holcombe Lane, Ottery St. Mary, Devon EX11 1PQ.
	Goodmans (Slaughterers) Ltd., The Bungalow, Warwick Road, Ettington, Stratford-on-Avon, Warks, CV37 7PN.
	2002
	Harry Hawkins and Partners, Chates Farm, Cowfold, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 8DU.

Animal Welfare Bill

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will include the use of snares in the proposed Animal Welfare Bill.

Elliot Morley: Snares will not be dealt with under the Animal Welfare Bill. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 already regulates snares.

Water Supplies (Ashford)

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the additional water supplies needed for the planned expansion of Ashford; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Ashford is served by Mid Kent Water. Along with the other water supply companies, Mid Kent Water produces a water resources plan, which looks forward 25 years. The plan is updated annually by the Company, and is reviewed by the Environment Agency for consistency with the national and regional water resources strategies. The planned expansion of Ashford will be factored into this process.

Biofuels

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what subsidies there are to encourage British farmers to produce crops capable of being transformed into biofuels.

Michael Meacher: Transport biofuels can be produced from crops such as oilseed rape, wheat, potatoes and sugar beet. The Government are promoting the production of these biofuels through the existing 20 pence/litre cut in duty for biodiesel compared to ultra-low sulphur diesel, and the intention announced in November's pre-budget report to reduce the duty for bioethanol by 20 pence/litre compared to ultra-low sulphur petrol.
	This Department has allocated £29 million under the Energy Crops Scheme for establishment grants for short rotation coppice (SRC) and miscanthus, and for SRC growers to set up producer groups. The Woodland Grant Scheme and Farm Woodland Premium Scheme provide grants to create and manage woodland, which can help in the production of wood fuel. £66 million is available to develop markets for biomass in heat, combined heat and power and power generation. A further £3.5 million has been allocated to develop the supply chain required to harvest, store, process and supply biomass to energy end-users.
	Non-food crops receive support under the European Union's Arable Area Payments Scheme and can be grown on set-aside land.

BSE

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much (a) her Department and (b) the European Union has spent on (i) rendering and (ii) incineration of BSE-suspected animal carcases in each year since the over 30 months scheme began.

Elliot Morley: All costs for incineration of BSE-suspected animals have been met by the Department.
	(i) Rendering of BSE-suspected animals is not permitted.
	(ii) Expenditure on incineration of BSE-suspected animal carcases in each year since the start of the over thirty months scheme has been as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1996–97 2.1 
			 1997–98 1.4 
			 1998–99 1.5 
			 1999–2000 1.3 
			 2000–01 1.0 
			 2001–02 1.3 
		
	
	These figures include expenditure on incineration of offspring cull animals and some other associated expenses.

Bushmeat

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether a disease risk analysis of the potential risk to public health posed by the illegal importation of bushmeat has been undertaken by the Food Standards Agency.

Hazel Blears: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 6 March 2003, Official Report, column 1205W.

Regulatory Import Assessments

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many responses were received on the consultation document "Living Places—Powers, Rights, Responsibilities", broken down by (a) local authority, (b) business, (c) NGO, (d) individual and (e) other sources; and if she will place a list of respondees in the Library.

Michael Meacher: We received 248 responses to our Living Places consultation.
	105 from local authorities
	19 from businesses
	10 from NGOs
	40 from individuals
	74 from other sources
	We will place a list of respondees in the Library.

Regulatory Import Assessments

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the length of consultation provided on the consultation documents on partial regulatory impact assessments published on 17 February meets the requirements laid out in the Code of Practice on Written Consultation published by the Cabinet Office in November 2000; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: No, the deadline we gave for comments on partial regulatory assessments was not in line with the criteria laid out in the Code of Practice on Written Consultation published by the Cabinet Office.
	These partial regulatory impact assessments were produced following an analysis of early responses to the consultation document "Living Places—Powers, Rights, Responsibilities". This analysis indicated that the issues in question were of a high priority and respondents would welcome early legislation. We therefore felt it appropriate to conduct a short, targeted, consultation exercise, so that we could be ready to legislate should an appropriate legislative opportunity arise.

Regulatory Import Assessments

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many responses have been received to the consultation documents on partial regulatory impact assessments published on 17 February on (a) fly tipping, (b) local environmental quality and (c) street furniture broken down by (i) local authority, (ii) business, (iii) NGO, (iv) individual and (v) other sources; and if she will place a list of respondees in the Library.

Michael Meacher: We received 25 responses on fly tipping; 15 from local authorities, two from businesses, two from NGOs, 0 from individuals and six from other sources.
	26 responses were received on local environmental quality; 16 from local authorities, three from businesses, 0 from both NGOs and individuals, and seven from other sources.
	And lastly, we received 24 responses on street furniture; 15 from local authorities, five from businesses, 0 from both NGOs and individuals, and four from other sources.
	We will place a list of respondees in the Library.

Departmental File Stores

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people were employed in the departmental file stores in each year since 1997; how many have been transferred to the private sector; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: Staffing levels of the Department's file stores have remained at a fairly consistent level from 1997 to 2003, employing between 15 to 17 full-time posts as the table indicates.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 17 
			 1998 17 
			 1999 17 
			 2000 16 
			 2001 16 
			 2002 16 
			 2003 15 
		
	
	No posts have been transferred, or are expected to transfer to the private sector.
	At the end of March 2003, one of the Department's main file stores at Hayes will close. It employs seven staff. Three posts are being transferred to manage a new file store contract in Defra's main Headquarter's office, and the Department is actively seeking to re-deploy the four remaining posts on other administrative duties.

Departmental Telephone Directory

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the most recent internal telephone directory for the Department was published; how often it is updated; and if she will place a copy in the Library.

Alun Michael: Our internal on-line Corporate Directory was introduced as part of our greening initiative, and is updated by individual members of staff whenever their personal details change.
	Although we no longer produce a paper telephone directory, details of our senior staff can be found in the following publications:
	Vacher's Parliamentary Companion;
	Vacher Dod's Civil Service Companion;
	PMS Parliamentary Companion; and
	The Civil Service Year Book.
	Defra contact details can also be found on our website: www.defra.gov.uk

Drinking Water

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the continuation of charging regimes for drinking water based on 1973 rateable values.

Elliot Morley: It is open to water companies to set unmeasured charges on the basis of rateable values, or to propose another basis, subject to the approval of the Director General of Water Services. The Government remain ready to discuss any proposals with those interested in devising a practicable alternative to rateable value as the basis for unmeasured charging. Any such scheme would need to address how to deal with transitional effects and how to ensure an acceptable outcome for different groups of customers, particularly vulnerable consumers. Household customers have the statutory right to opt for a measured charge if they prefer.

Environmental Offences

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many offences related to environmental damage and disruption have been decriminalised since 1997.

Michael Meacher: This Department does not hold information on such offences centrally. However, following inquiries by my officials, I am not aware of any such offences being decriminalised since 1997.

Environmental Protection

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to develop a methodology to assess in regulatory impact assessments of new environmental protection measures the economic benefits of high environmental standards in order to implement the new Cabinet Office guidance Better Policy Making: A Guide to Regulatory Impact; and what category of benefits his Department will include when developing such a methodology.

Elliot Morley: In the new Cabinet Office guidance Better Policy Making: A Guide to Regulatory Impact Assessment, consideration of the potential dynamic benefits of higher environmental standards is required when assessing the benefits of proposed policy. The importance of considering these potential benefits was raised by Defra during the consultation period. The new guidance also states that quantifying these benefits is difficult, given the high level of uncertainty surrounding them in the future. For this reason the Department's approach in implementing the Cabinet Office guidance will focus on promoting good practice in policy making, giving particular emphasis to the importance of undertaking early informal consultation with stakeholders. This is entirely consistent with the new Cabinet Office guidance which gives increased emphasis to stakeholder consultation and to integrating into the policy process those who have an informed understanding of the potential economic benefits of a particular policy.
	The Integrated Policy Appraisal tool, a structured format for assessing the economic, social and environmental impacts of a proposed policy, is currently being piloted in Defra. Active consideration is being given to developing this to cover in more detail the economic benefits of high environmental standards. On the assessment of environmental benefits, Defra, and a number of other Government Departments, are at the forefront of work to develop and apply new methodologies. An up-to-date assessment of this work is provided in Annex 2 of the Treasury's new Green Book on policy appraisal and evaluation at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media//78872/Green Book2 03.pdf

Flooding

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place in the Library a copy of the flood risk data released by the Environment Agency to the Association of British Insurers on 29 January.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency has provided the initial results of an R&D project called Risk Assessment for Strategic Planning (RASP) to the Association of British Insurers under agreement for assessment purposes only at this stage. The Agency is working closely with the ABI and leading insurance companies to ensure that the best available data can be provided at the earliest opportunity to insurers and the public. The data are not sufficiently accurate to be placed in the public domain at the present time but the Agency plans to make new flood risk maps available to the public in late 2003.

Flooding

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what responsibilities (a) the Environment Agency, (b) county councils, (c) district councils, (d) unitary authorities, (e) the Highways Agency and (f) other public bodies have to (i) deal with and (ii) prevent flooding.

Elliot Morley: Flood defence is currently delivered in partnership between Defra, which has policy responsibility, and the operating authorities—the Environment Agency (EA), local authorities and Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs).
	The EA is the principal flood defence operating authority with responsibility for managing flood risk from designated main rivers and the sea. The EA is also responsible for public awareness campaigns, flood forecasting and warning and for exercising a general supervision over all matters relating to flood defence. IDBs exist in areas of special drainage needs and have responsibility for ordinary watercourses in their area. Local authorities (district, borough and unitary councils) are responsible for ordinary watercourses where no IDB exists, and maritime councils also have powers to take action against coastal erosion and sea flooding. The responsibilities on the coast are set out in shoreline management plans. Local authorities also take the lead in emergency planning and managing the emergency response to flooding.
	The present institutional and funding arrangements have recently been reviewed and I shall be announcing the outcomes of this review shortly.
	Sewerage companies are under a statutory duty to ensure the effective drainage of their area. This is not however regarded as extending to an absolute duty to prevent sewer flooding under any circumstances, which would be technically impossible.
	Other public bodies, including the Highways Agency, are responsible for minimising the effects of their activities on the run-off of water and flooding through consultation with the EA and other operating authorities.

GM Crops

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many applications she has received for the authorisation of GM crops since December 2002; and if she will make a statement on the process.

Michael Meacher: I have received no applications for authorisation to place a GM crop on the market under Directive 2001/18 since the beginning of December. However, two applications made before that date are still under consideration. In addition the UK has been notified of 17 applications that are being processed by other member states.

GM Crops

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to license GM crops in Scotland for commercial use.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 7 March 2003
	Decisions to authorise the commercial importation or cultivation of any GM crop will be taken by European Union (EU) Member States collectively, on a case-by-case basis, working with the European Commission in the context of EU Directive 2001/18. In preparing the UK's opinion the Government will consult the Devolved Administrations on all applications. We will not support consent for commercial cultivation of any GM crops to which the results of the UK's Farm Scale Evaluation trials are relevant, until the results have been assessed and a conclusion drawn that the management of the crops concerned does not pose a risk to the environment. Under the single market regime of the EU, once a GM crop has commercial approval it can be imported and, if the consent conditions permit, cultivated anywhere in the EU.

Illegal Meat Imports

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received and discussions she has had regarding publicity material for international travellers through the "Don't Bring Back More Than You Bargained For" campaign to prevent illegal meat imports entering the UK.

Elliot Morley: We have received a number of representations about the "Don't Bring Back More Than You Bargained For" campaign through such means as Parliamentary Questions, Ministers Correspondence, and correspondence from individuals. Officials have had regular discussions with the National Farmers Union and the Women's Institute about our publicity campaign. Officials are also in discussion with the Central Office of Information and HM Customs about our future publicity strategy.

Illegal Meat Imports

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what health risks are associated with fish and fish products brought into the UK by international travellers through the "Don't Bring Back More Than You Bargained For" campaign.

Elliot Morley: The illegal import of live or dead fish could result in the introduction of serious fish diseases listed in Council Directive 91/67/EEC which could prejudice the high health status of farmed and wild species of fish in the UK. While such diseases have not been shown to cause illness in humans, the uncontrolled movement of fish and fish products could pose other hazards to human health.

Light Pollution

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost of energy wasted by street lighting directed above the horizontal.

David Jamieson: holding answer 6 March 2003
	I have been asked to reply.
	My Department has no central figures of the lighting characteristics of the many types of street lighting units in use and so cannot readily estimate the energy cost of light directed above the horizontal. However, the Department does advise the use of lighting units which restrict the amount of light directed above the horizontal to reduce light pollution.

Light Pollution

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to encourage the use of downward directed lighting and to improve the visibility of the night sky.

Alun Michael: This is not matter for this Department but one for the office of my colleague the Deputy Prime Minister.

Integrated Farm Management

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on Linking Environment and Farming.

Elliot Morley: Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF) is a charitable organisation committed to the promotion of an holistic approach to viable farming and environmental enhancement through Integrated Farm Management (IFM).
	Defra continues to support the valuable work undertaken by LEAF.

Integrated Farm Management

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the outcome of her visit to the Linking Environment and Farming project in Wirral, South.

Elliot Morley: The visit to Leverhulme Estate gave a useful insight into the value of demonstration farms and the adoption of Integrated Farm Management (IFM). These help promote the practical application of good farming principles—one of the key initiatives in the Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food.

Nightingale Hall Farm, Lancaster

Hilton Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she intends to determine the appeal of Fats and Proteins (UK) Ltd. under section 15 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 issued on 5 December 1997 in respect of Nightingale Hall Farm, Lancaster in relation to (a) the odour boundary condition and (b) the likelihood of increased spillage on surrounding roads.

Michael Meacher: A letter, setting out the decision that the Secretary of State is 'minded to' issue in this appeal case, was issued to interested parties on 16 January, inviting further representations on the proposed decision. The Department is now carefully considering all the representations received in response to the 'minded to' letter and will issue a final decision letter as soon as possible.

Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  pursuant to her answer of 11 February, Official Report, column 664W, on nuclear fuel reprocessing, if she will list the different radioactive materials that make up (a) the low level waste, (b) the intermediate level waste and (c) the high level waste;
	(2)  pursuant to her answer of 11 February 2003, Official Report, column 664W, on nuclear fuel reprocessing, what radioactive materials make up (a) the 28,000 cubic metres low level waste, (b) the 14,000 cubic metres intermediate level waste and (c) the 480 cubic metres high level waste.

Michael Meacher: The waste from nuclear fuel reprocessing contains a variety of radioactively contaminated material, such as:
	Low level waste: stainless steel containers, steel flasks, sheet steel, paper, wood and plastic;
	Intermediate level waste: plutonium contaminated plastic or metal, stainless steel fuel cladding, scrap metal or plastic, barium carbonate, graphite, insoluble fission products, ion exchange material, sand, floc from effluent treatment and sludge from ponds;
	High level waste: fission products and trace actinides.

Oil Pollution

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many incidences (a) have been recorded and (b) have resulted in fines and prosecutions relating to releases of oil from refineries caused by flushing processes in each year since 1997; how much each fine was; and what the estimated cost was of clearing up such incidences.

Michael Meacher: No incidents relating to releases of oil from refineries caused by flushing processes were recorded by the Environment Agency in either 2001 or 2002.
	Information on such incidents before 2001 is not readily available although the Environment Agency is not aware of any between 1997 and 2001.

Perchloroethylene

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what incidences of (a) water and (b) air pollution resulting from businesses which use perchloroethylene in their day to day operations there have been in each year since 1997; and how many led to (i) fines and (ii) prosecutions, including the amount of fines levied.

Michael Meacher: Environment Agency data shows that there have been 10 incidents of water and air pollution since 1997 involving perchloroethylene. The Agency's database is only accurate from 2001.
	All of the recorded incidents were of a minor nature, although one did attract enforcement action of a "site warning nature". None attracted fines or legal action.

Pest Designations

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to de-designate (a) starlings and (b) house sparrows as pests.

Elliot Morley: Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 all birds are protected. There is no legal definition of wild birds as pests. However, under Section 16 of the 1981 Act general licences are issued that allow the killing or taking of certain birds for the purposes of public health and air safety, conservation of wild birds and to prevent serious damage to crops. Both the starling and house sparrow are currently listed on some of these licences. Research conducted on behalf of my Department last year into the declines of both these species showed that control under the general licences has an insignificant effect upon their conservation status and their population numbers.
	All general licences are reviewed annually and re-issued only after seeking the advice of our statutory advisor, English Nature. Officials are currently examining all the general licences, including those for killing or taking of certain birds, and will be discussing with stakeholders any relevant improvements.

Pesticides

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list pesticides whose use in the UK has been rescinded in each of the last 10 years.

Elliot Morley: All the pesticides containing the active substances listed in the table have had their use rescinded over the last 10 years within the UK.
	
		
			 Last productexpired on: Active substance 
		
		
			 28/02/2003 parahydroxyphenylsalicylamide 
			 22/09/2002 zineb 
			 31/07/2002 seconal 
			 27/06/2002 bioallethrin 
			 27/06/2002 quintozene 
			 20/06/2002 lindane 
			 31/05/2002 dicofol 
			 31/03/2002 1,2-dichloropropane 
			 28/02/2002 fenpiclonil 
			 28/02/2002 sodium silver thiosulphate 
			 28/02/2002 tridemorph 
			 31/01/2002 tecnazene 
			 31/12/2001 carbofuran 
			 31/12/2001 chlorfenvinphos 
			 31/12/2001 disulfoton 
			 31/12/2001 etrimfos 
			 31/12/2001 propoxur 
			 30/09/2001 methoprene 
			 27/09/2001 disodium hydrogen phosphate 
			 27/09/2001 p-[(diiodomethyl)sulfonyl]toluol 
			 31/07/2001 carbaryl 
			 31/07/2001 fenitrothion 
			 31/07/2001 quizalofop-ethyl 
			 01/07/2001 phorate 
			 30/06/2001 copper hydrate 
			 30/04/2001 heptenophos 
			 30/04/2001 phenothrin 
			 30/04/2001 tetramethrin 
			 20/04/2001 ethiofencarb 
			   
			 20/04/2001 mephosfolan 
			 20/04/2001 methomyl 
			 20/04/2001 phosalone 
			 20/04/2001 pyrazophos 
			 20/04/2001 trichlorfon 
			 31/12/2000 dienochlor 
			 30/11/2000 thiometon 
			 31/10/2000 demeton-s-methyl 
			 30/09/2000 cresylicacid 
			 30/09/2000 diazinon 
			 30/09/2000 triazophos 
			 31/07/2000 fenoxaprop-ethyl 
			 31/07/2000 fonofos 
			 31/07/2000 quinalphos 
			 29/02/2000 flamprop-m-ethyl 
			 31/01/2000 chlorbufam 
			 31/12/1999 dodecylbenzyl trimethyl ammonium chloride 
			 31/12/1999 propham 
			 30/11/1999 dalapon 
			 31/03/1999 anilazine 
			 04/03/1999 imazethapyr 
			 28/02/1999 tca 
			 31/01/1999 alloxydim-sodium 
			 11/11/1998 diphenamid 
			 31/05/1998 tebuthiuron 
			 28/02/1998 benzoylprop-ethyl 
			 28/02/1998 ethephon 
			 13/01/1998 ferbam 
			 30/11/1997 iodofenphos 
			 30/09/1997 fenvalerate 
			 14/08/1997 mineral oil 
			 12/08/1997 bromophos 
			 31/03/1997 dimefuron 
			 31/12/1996 trichodermaviride 
			 30/11/1996 quassia 
			 31/01/1996 oxydemeton-methyl 
			 30/11/1995 hexazinone 
			 30/09/1995 pirimiphos-ethyl 
			 04/09/1995 epic 
			 30/06/1995 nitrothal-isopropyl 
			 30/06/1995 omethoate 
			 31/05/1995 thiofanox 
			 28/02/1995 formaldehyde 
			 31/01/1995 sodium tetraborate 
			 31/08/1994 phoxim 
			 31/08/1994 vamidothion 
			 10/08/1994 dithiocarbamate complex 
			 28/02/1994 nabam 
			 31/01/1994 azinphos-methyl 
			 31/12/1993 boric acid 
			   
			 20/04/2001 mephosfolan 
			 20/04/2001 methomyl 
			 20/04/2001 phosalone 
			 20/04/2001 pyrazophos 
			 20/04/2001 trichlorfon 
			 31/12/2000 dienochlor 
			 30/11/2000 thiometon 
			 31/10/2000 demeton-s-methyl 
			 30/09/2000 cresylicacid 
			 30/09/2000 diazinon 
			 30/09/2000 triazophos 
			 31/07/2000 fenoxaprop-ethyl 
			 31/07/2000 fonofos 
			 31/07/2000 quinalphos 
			 29/02/2000 flamprop-m-ethyl 
			 31/01/2000 chlorbufam 
			 31/12/1999 dodecylbenzyl trimethyl ammonium chloride 
			 31/12/1999 propham 
			 30/11/1999 dalapon 
			 31/03/1999 anilazine 
			 04/03/1999 imazethapyr 
			 28/02/1999 tca 
			 31/01/1999 alloxydim-sodium 
			 11/11/1998 diphenamid 
			 31/05/1998 tebuthiuron 
			 28/02/1998 benzoylprop-ethyl 
			 28/02/1998 ethephon 
			 13/01/1998 ferbam 
			 30/11/1997 iodofenphos 
			 30/09/1997 fenvalerate 
			 14/08/1997 mineral oil 
			 12/08/1997 bromophos 
			 31/03/1997 dimefuron 
			 31/12/1996 trichodermaviride 
			 30/11/1996 quassia 
			 31/01/1996 oxydemeton-methyl 
			 30/11/1995 hexazinone 
			 30/09/1995 pirimiphos-ethyl 
			 04/09/1995 epic 
			 30/06/1995 nitrothal-isopropyl 
			 30/06/1995 omethoate 
			 31/05/1995 thiofanox 
			 28/02/1995 formaldehyde 
			 31/01/1995 sodium tetraborate 
			 31/08/1994 phoxim 
			 31/08/1994 vamidothion 
			 10/08/1994 dithiocarbamate complex 
			 28/02/1994 nabam 
			 31/01/1994 azinphos-methyl 
			 31/12/1993 boric acid 
			   
			 31/12/1993 potassium sorbate 
			 31/12/1993 sodium metabisulphite 
			 31/12/1993 sodium. propionate 
			 30/06/1993 bioresmethrin 
			 30/06/1993 chloroxuron 
			 30/06/1993 chlorsulfuron 
			 30/06/1993 fluazifop-butyl 
			 30/06/1993 norbormide 
			 30/06/1993 thiourea 
			 28/02/1993 2,4,5-t 
			 28/02/1993 2,4-des 
			 28/02/1993 barban 
			 28/02/1993 benzethonium chloride 
			 28/02/1993 bitumen 
			 28/02/1993 carbophenothion 
			 28/02/1993 chlorthiamid 
			 28/02/1993 cufraneb 
			 28/02/1993 di-allate 
			 28/02/1993 ditalimfos 
			 28/02/1993 fenchlorphos 
			 28/02/1993 fenoprop 
			 28/02/1993 flamprop-methyl 
			 28/02/1993 fluoroacetamide 
			 28/02/1993 mevinphos 
			 28/02/1993 oxine-copper 
			 28/02/1993 silica 
			 28/02/1993 sodium hydrogen carbonate 
			 28/02/1993 thionazin 
			 28/01/1993 drazoxolon 
			 31/12/1992 1-naphthylacetamide 
			 31/12/1992 alkylaryl trimethyl ammonium chloride 
			 31/12/1992 allethrin 
			 31/12/1992 anthraquinone 
			 31/12/1992 chlordane 
			 31/12/1992 ethylmercury phosphate 
			 31/12/1992 formothion 
			 31/12/1992 paraformaldehyde 
			 31/12/1992 pine sawfly npv 
			 31/12/1992 quinonamid 
			 31/12/1992 sodium carbonate 
			 31/12/1992 tetrachlorvinphos 
			 31/12/1992 zineb-ethylenethiuram disulphide 
			 01/07/1992 pentachlorophenol 
			 31/03/1992 2-methoxymethylmercury acetate 
			 31/03/1992 mercuric oxide 
			 31/03/1992 mercurous chloride 
			 31/03/1992 phenylmercury acetate

Pesticides

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list pesticides whose use in the EU has been rescinded in each of the last 10 years; and what their current status is in the UK.

Elliot Morley: Since 1993 there has been a European wide review programme to ensure that all active substances used in plant protection products meet modern human and environmental protection standards. To date decisions have been taken to withdraw 22 pesticides. These are listed as follows along with their status within the UK.
	
		
			 Active Year approvals rescinded Current status in UK 
		
		
			 Acephate 2004 Not approved 
			 Azinphos-ethyl 1996 Not approved 
			 Benomyl 2003 Not approved 
			 Chlozolinate 2002 Not approved 
			 Cyhalothrin 1995 Not approved 
			 Dinoterb 1998 Not approved 
			 DNOC 2000 Not approved 
			 Fentin acetate 2002 Not approved 
			 Fentin hydroxide 2002 Not approved 
			 Fenvalerate 1999 Not approved 
			 Ferbam 1996 Not approved 
			 Lindane 2002 Not approved 
			 Metalaxyl 2004 Still approved 
			 Monolinuron 2001 Not approved 
			 Parathion-ethyl 2003 Not approved 
			 Parathion-methyl 2004 Not approved 
			 Permethrin 2003 Still approved until end 2003 
			 Propham 1997 Not approved 
			 Pyrazophos 2001 Not approved 
			 Quintozene 2002 Not approved 
			 Tecnazene 2003 Not approved 
			 Zineb 2003 Not approved 
		
	
	The EU review programme will result in many substances being withdrawn for commercial as well as safety reasons. By the end of 2003, about 50 per cent. of the 850 substances currently used in agricultural pesticides throughout the EU will have been withdrawn because companies did not support them. The review of the outstanding supported compounds are due to be completed by 2008.

Plastic Bags

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment has been made of the potential role of degradable plastic bags in improving environmental protection;
	(2)  what steps her Department is taking to encourage industry to move towards the use of degradable plastic bags.

Michael Meacher: Government have not yet carried out an assessment of the potential role of biodegradable plastics bags in improving environmental protection. The Environment Agency has however been asked to include a project on impacts of replacing supermarket plastic bags with biodegradable alternatives in its 2003–04 research programme.
	The Government support the development of biodegradable plastics from non-fossil fuel sources. The Government Industry Forum on Non-Food Uses of Crops was set up in March 2001 to provide strategic advice to Government and industry on the development of non-food uses of crops. The Forum has examined the UK potential to produce compostable packaging materials from mainstream agricultural crops and has concluded that there is a clear opportunity for both UK agriculture and industry to develop these materials. The Forum is encouraging industry to respond to this opportunity and develop products to supply an expanding market.

Plastics Recycling

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the (a) costs and (b) benefits of plastics recycling; what plans she has to encourage plastics recycling; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: No assessments have been made of the costs or benefit of plastics recycling.
	Our highest priority is to increase recycling and composting rates for biodegradable waste (i) to meet the Landfill Directive targets and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions generated when biodegradable waste is landfilled, (ii) because biodegradable waste comprises 53 per cent. by weight of the waste fraction and (iii) because at present, the economics of plastics recycling are much more difficult.
	We do, however, take plastics recycling seriously, and as local authorities have to meet increasingly demanding recycling targets, they will have to start tackling the more difficult waste streams, including plastics.
	Under the 1997 Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 (as amended), obligated businesses which handle plastic must recover or recycle a designated amount of plastic each year. This has led to a substantial amount of plastic packaging waste being recycled and the quantity is expected to increase further, partly as a result of revisions to the European directive on packaging waste, which are currently being negotiated.
	The amount of plastic packaging waste being recovered and recycled has increased significantly in recent years from 125,539 tonnes in 1998 to 269,962 tonnes in 2001. The revised directive is expected to set challenging targets which will require the provision of new infrastructure. Revenue from the Packaging Waste Recycling Notes (provided for under the UK packaging and waste regulations), which amounted to £70 million in 2001, can be used as a mechanism for directing money towards investment in the collection and recovery infrastructure and the development of end use markets for recyclate.

Radioactive Waste

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 11 February 2003, Official Report, column 664W, on nuclear fuel reprocessing, what the storage plans are for the various components of (a) the 28,000 cubic metres low level waste, (b) the 14,000 cubic metres intermediate level waste and (c) the 480 cubic metres high level waste.

Michael Meacher: The low level waste will be disposed of at the Drigg facility near Sellafield. The remaining waste will be stored on the Sellafield site.

Secondments

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many of her Department's officials have been seconded to (a) Greenpeace and (b) other NGOs since 1 January 2002; and on what areas of policy seconded individuals have worked.

Alun Michael: None to Greenpeace and one placement to an NGO. This secondment to the Rural Stress Information Network was in place before 1 January 2002 and has been very productive.

Secondments

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) British Energy, (b) BNFL, (c) Greenpeace, (d) Friends of the Earth and (e) other (i) companies and (ii) NGOs staff have been seconded to her Department since 1 January 2002; and on what areas of policy seconded individuals have worked.

Alun Michael: No staff have been seconded to the organisations shown at (a) to (d) in the question. Under item (e) one person has been seconded from a company, which does not fall within the above list, and 13 staff have been seconded from NGOs. These staff have been seconded to the Departments Science, Environment, Land Use and Rural Affairs, Directorates and the Rural Delivery Service.

Smoking

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what policy her Department has adopted on smoking in the workplace.

Alun Michael: Smoking is not permitted anywhere on Defra premises other than in designated smoking room that are suitably equipped and ventilated. On premises where this is not feasible a total ban on smoking has been introduced.
	The Policy was revised in January 2003 to place further emphasis on fire risk hazards and to discourage smoking in official vehicles.
	Information and a video on loan are available to staff who wish to give up smoking.

Sustainable Development

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to conduct research on the relationship between production and consumption with reference to the delivery of sustainable development.

Michael Meacher: The agenda for sustainable consumption and production (SCP) agreed at WSSD last year is a very ambitious one, in terms of the scope of the issues to be addressed, the range of actors involved, and the range and inter-dependence of the measures that could be considered. The Government have been actively building up the knowledge base to support this agenda: in particular, substantial research and analysis has been carried out over the last three years as inputs to the Cabinet Office Strategy Unit reports on resource productivity ("Making More With Less") and waste ("Waste Not, Want Not") and the Energy White Paper published last month. The Government now plan to draw some of the main threads together in a strategy document on Sustainable Consumption and Production, to be published in the summer. My Department is co-ordinating this work, which will itself feed into the review of the UK Sustainable Development Strategy and its associated sustainable development indicators, to be completed in 2005.
	We will be considering what further research the Government may need to commission as part of this evolving work on a longer-term strategy. In addition, organisations outside central Government are also looking at issues connected with the SCP agenda and we shall be making full use of such material where we can.

Water Services

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of households pay for water supplies based on the 1973 rateable value of the property, broken down by supplier area.

Elliot Morley: The following is the information for households in England.
	
		Percentage of households charged for water supplies based on the rateable value of a property, 2002–03 (estimates by Ofwat based on provisional and forecast data provided by each company)
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Water and sewerage companies  
			 Anglian 49.5 
			 Northumbrian:  
			 Northumbrian 92.1 
			 Essex and Suffolk 68.9 
			 Severn Trent 78.1 
			 South West 62.8 
			 Southern 76.0 
			 Thames 80.9 
			 United Utilities 86.5 
			 Wessex 69.6 
			 Yorkshire:  
			 Yorkshire 75.2 
			 York 92.4 
			 Water only companies  
			 Bournemouth and W. Hampshire 75.3 
			 Bristol 79.1 
			 Cambridge 47.9 
			 Cholderton 89.1 
			 Dee Valley 72.1 
			 Folkestone and Dover 64.4 
			 Mid Kent 71.0 
			 Portsmouth 96.7 
			 South East 72.2 
			 South Staffordshire 86.8 
			 Sutton and East Surrey 81.9 
			 Tendring Hundred 46.3 
			 Three Valleys:  
			 Three Valleys 80.7 
			 North Surrey 81.2

Water Services

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much water was estimated to be lost from water pipes broken down by (a) company supply pipes and (b) piping between the water company connection point and the householder's tap in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2002.

Elliot Morley: Water company leakage data is published annually by the Director General of Water Services in the 'Security of supply, leakage and the efficient use of water' reports, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. The reported leakage figures for companies' pipes and customers' supply pipes for 1996–97 and 2001–02 (in litres/property/day) were as follows:
	
		
			   Company pipes  Customer supply pipes 
			  1997 2002 1997 2002 
		
		
			 Water and sewerage companies 
			 Anglian 79.4 82.1 75.8 36.5 
			 Dwr Cymru 216.4 162.0 67.8 24.8 
			 Northumbrian North 120.3 99.8 53.2 42.2 
			 Northumbrian South 72.6 57.1 43.0 39.5 
			 Severn Trent 103.1 69.3 48.7 35.4 
			 South West 141.7 90.8 45.9 24.9 
			 Southern 79.6 68.8 36.8 23.1 
			 Thames 231.6 186.4 88.9 63.7 
			 United Utilities 174.8 117.0 43.5 28.6 
			 Wessex 204.4 111.8 50.2 37.3 
			 Yorkshire 164.0 109.5 49.9 31.9 
			  
			 Water only companies 
			 Bournemouth and W. Hants 110.4 83.9 46.8 36.3 
			 Bristol 98.3 89.9 41.6 23.1 
			 Cambridge 102.5 89.9 36.7 31.1 
			 Dee Valley 75.2 61.3 41.2 36.8 
			 Folkestone and Dover 115.0 83.2 49.6 33.7 
			 Mid Kent 124.8 81.4 41.5 38.4 
			 Portsmouth 59.1 74.0 49.0 29.3 
			 South East 119.4 92.8 56.6 34.7 
			 South Staffordshire 122.7 88.8 47.5 42.4 
			 Sutton and East Surrey 60.8 54.9 42.8 36.1 
			 Tendring Hundred 60.5 63.9 33.0 10.2 
			 Three Valleys 117.1 82.5 55.8 46.4

Water Services

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to ensure that leakage levels in piping between the water company connection point and the householder's tap are reduced.

Elliot Morley: Following the Water Summit in 1997, Ofwat has set water companies annual leakage targets. This mechanism has achieved a significant reduction in leakage, both on the distribution network and customers' supply pipes. The Government also asked water companies to make a further commitment to reduce leakage in customers' supply pipes. As a result, all companies offer some degree of free or subsidised repair and replacement for domestic customers' supply pipes. This activity is undertaken as part of water companies' statutory duty to promote the efficient use of water by their customers. Ofwat has a responsibility to enforce this duty, and annually reviews water companies' policies and activities in this area.
	Details regarding water company activity on water efficiency, the number of supply pipes replaced and repaired annually, and the supply pipe policies can be found in the Ofwat report 'Security of supply, leakage and the efficient use of water 2001–02', a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

Water Services

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent studies (a) have been conducted and (b) are planned to establish the extent of leaking pipes in (i) the public water supply and (ii) domestic and business properties.

Elliot Morley: Since the Water Summit in 1997, Ofwat has set water companies annual leakage reduction targets, which cover the distribution network and customers' supply pipes. Companies submit details each year on progress with their leakage control activities, including information on supply pipe leakage. Water company leakage data is published annually by the Director General of Water Services in the 'Security of supply, leakage and the efficient use of water' reports, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

Water Services

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which water companies (a) have and (b) have not accepted responsibility for a free leak repair service for domestic supply pipes.

Elliot Morley: All water companies offer some degree of free repair for domestic customers' supply pipes. The exact nature of the repair policy and any restrictions to that policy are dependent on the water company and its operating conditions, although many companies also offer free or subsidised supply pipe replacement. Further details of the supply pipe policy for each water company are provided in Appendix 5 of the Ofwat report 'Security of supply, leakage and the efficient use of water 2001–02', a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

PRIVY COUNCIL

Ministerial Representation

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the President of the Council what plans he has to propose allowing the appearance in the House of Ministers that are not Members of the House (a) to answer questions and (b) to pilot legislation for which they are responsible.

Robin Cook: I have no such plans and I have not previously been invited to bring forward such plans.

Privy Council

Gordon Prentice: To ask the President of the Council what reforms to the (a) working methods and (b) system of appointment of the Privy Council have been (i) initiated and (ii) carried through since 1997.

Robin Cook: Appointments to the Privy Council are made by Her Majesty on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. There has been no fundamental change to that practice since 1997.

Private Members' Bills

John Mann: To ask the President of the Council if he will bring forward proposals to the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons to move private Members' Bills to Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.

Robin Cook: The Procedure Committee is currently conducting an inquiry, which includes procedures for Private Members' Bills and the time for debate on them. I look forward to their report.

House of Lords Reform

Anne Campbell: To ask the President of the Council what representations he has received arising from the recent votes on the reform of the House of Lords.

Robin Cook: I have received several letters from hon. and right hon. Members on behalf of their constituents, and a number more* from members of the public. In addition, my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. McWalter) asked me about reform during last week's Business Statement. I said then that I had no plans to bring the issue back to this House until a fresh consensus has emerged.
	* 115 since October 2002.
	34.

House of Lords Reform

David Heath: To ask the President of the Council he will make a statement on progress towards House of Lords reform.

Robin Cook: Following the votes in both Houses last month, the Joint Committee is now considering options for the way forward. I understand they are to meet again on 25 March 2003. It will be for the Joint Committee to decide what, and when, they wish to report to both Houses. As I told the House on 6 March 2003, Official Report, column 969, I think that it would be premature to bring the matter back to the House until there is at least the makings of a majority in this Chamber for a particular way of reform.

Lord Chancellor (Pension Arrangements)

Gregory Barker: To ask the President of the Council when the Lord Chancellor's pension arrangements were last reviewed.

Robin Cook: The Review Body on Top Salaries reviewed the Lord Chancellor's pension arrangements in 1988; section 3 of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 formalised the salary lead over the Lord Chief Justice, which went through both Houses with all party agreement; and under the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Order 1996, the Lord Chancellor's salary is automatically set at £2,500 more than the salary of the Lord Chief Justice.

Lord Chancellor (Pension Arrangements)

David Willetts: To ask the President of the Council what the value is of the national pension funds that would be required to pay the Lord Chancellor's pension calculated on the basis of (a) the salary resulting from the recommendations of the report No. 54 of the Senior Salaries Review Body and (b) the reduced salary which the Lord Chancellor has indicated that he would accept.

Robin Cook: holding answer 13 February 2003
	The notional value of the Lord Chancellor's pension package (including dependants' benefits) which in fact is payable from the Consolidated Fund is estimated at around £2 million based on his current salary of £180,045. All other things being the same, this figure will vary on a pro-rata basis with his salary.

Lord Chancellor (Pension Arrangements)

David Willetts: To ask the President of the Council whether the Lord Chancellor's pension will be based on the full salary he has been awarded from 1 April.

Robin Cook: holding answer 13 February 2003
	The SSRB has been asked to look at the remuneration of the office of Lord Chancellor and make recommendations. Pending the outcome of this review, the Lord Chancellor's pension will be based on his salary at the time he leaves office.

Sitting Hours

Ben Chapman: To ask the President of the Council if he will make a statement on the sitting hours of the House.

Robin Cook: In October last year, a majority of Members voted to alter the sitting hours so that the House sat from 11.30 am on Tuesday and Wednesday.
	I know that some Members are not comfortable with the change. I accept that adaptation will take time. It is for that reason that the Standing Orders were changed for the rest of this Parliament. This allows a sufficient period for colleagues to make a considered judgment on the effect of the changes. Members will then have the opportunity to decide whether they wish to revert to late-night sittings.
	To review the changes after only a few months of the experiment would risk giving the public the impression that the most important decision-making body in the country could not take a clear decision even about its own working practices.

Peers (Convictions)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the President of the Council what discussions he has had with the Lord Chancellor concerning the appropriateness of peers convicted of an offence resulting in imprisonment (a) retaining their title and (b) retaining their membership of the House of Lords; and if he will make a statement.

Robin Cook: The Government made it clear in its November 2001 White Paper "The House of Lords: completing the reform" (Cm 5291) that it wished to consider the question of disqualification for membership of the House of Lords. Bringing the rules into line with those for the House of Commons, under which MPs convicted of an offence and sentenced to a term of imprisonment exceeding 12 months lose their seats, was one of the options proposed. Such a change would require primary legislation, as would any change to deprive a convicted peer of his or her title.

Public Funding

Tony Wright: To ask the President of the Council how much public funding the Conservative Party has received since 1997.

Robin Cook: Since 1997, the Conservative Party has received the following under the arrangements for financial assistance to opposition parties:
	
		
			 Year £ 
		
		
			 1997–98 986,763 
			 1998–99 1,112,886 
			 1999–2000 3,377,670 
			 2000–01 3,465,132 
			 2001–02 3,439,066 
			 2002–03 3,459,537 
			 Total 15,841,054

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Accountancy Services

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the total cost to his Department was for accountancy services in 2002.

Bill Rammell: The total cost to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for accountancy services in 2002 was £1,796,000.

British Indian Ocean Territories

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the dates on which agreements have been reached with the United States authorities regarding the requirements for the construction of facilities on the British Indian Ocean Territories; and how many separate agreements have been made concerning (a) development of specific areas and (b) technical requirements.

Mike O'Brien: The agreements that have been concluded with the US authorities relating to the construction of facilities in the British Indian Ocean Territory, including agreements concerning development of specific areas and technical requirements, are the following:
	(a) The Exchange of Notes of 30 December 1966 (Cmnd. 3231);
	(b) The Exchange of Notes of 24 October 1972 (Cmnd. 5160);
	(c) The Exchange of Notes of 25 February 1976 (Cmnd. 6413)
	In addition, at various times the UK and US Governments have recorded their understanding regarding the application of the above agreements.
	In 2001, certain infrastructure upgrades to the existing US Navy Support Facility on Diego Garcia and its designation as a Bomber Forward Operating Location were agreed. Further infrastructure upgrades were also agreed in 2002.

Convention on the Future of Europe

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UK Government tabled proposals to repatriate powers to the UK from the EU in the Convention on the Future of Europe.

Denis MacShane: The UK Government have not tabled any proposals in the Convention to return powers from the EU to the UK. We are content with the existing division of powers. We have however tabled proposals to strengthen the subsidiarity and proportionality principles to ensure that the EU only acts where it adds value to national action.

Defence Adviser (Harare)

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the functions of the Office of the Defence Adviser in the British High Commission in Harare.

Mike O'Brien: The main role of our Defence Adviser in Harare is to provide military advice to our High Commission, to maintain liaison with the Zimbabwe Defence Force and report on their military activities and capabilities. He also has a regional role, covering Botswana, Malawi and Mozambique, in addition to Zimbabwe. Our Defence Adviser's duties in Zimbabwe are circumscribed by the UK embargo on Zimbabwe, imposed in May 2000.

Defence Attachés/Defence Advisers

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the difference in roles is between a Defence Attaché and a Defence Adviser in UK embassies and diplomatic missions overseas.

Mike O'Brien: Defence Attachés serve at embassies and Defence Advisers serve at High Commissions. Their role is the same.
	Military Advisers as also attached to the Permanent Representatives to the UK Mission to the UN in New York and to the UK Delegation to the OSCE in Vienna.

Diego Garcia

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the financial arrangements are for the use of Diego Garcia by the United States; and what payments have been received in each year since 1997.

Mike O'Brien: The United States makes no payments to the UK in respect of the US defence facility in Diego Garcia. All costs incurred are borne by the United States.

European Union

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the EU enlargement negotiations on (a) the size of regional funds and (b) the role of (i) member states and (ii) the Commission in their distribution.

Denis MacShane: At the Copenhagen European Council in December 2002, the UK along with other EU member states finalised the terms of accession with 10 new members. This included an allocation of Euro25.5 billion (£17.4 billion) for structural and cohesion funds (SCF) in the new member states between 2004–06, distributed to the 10 countries in line with existing rules. These will be administered by regional authorities, Central Governments and the Commission on the basis of the current SCF regulations.

European Union

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the enlargement negotiation in the EU on the (a) size and (b) method of distribution of EU regional funds will be concluded.

Denis MacShane: Enlargement negotiations with 10 countries were concluded at the Copenhagen European Council in December 2002.

European Union

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what negotiations are in progress on the regional funds of the EU.

Denis MacShane: EU negotiations on the future of the Structural and Cohesion Funds after 2006 are unlikely to commence until the European Commission has issued its proposals. Those proposals are expected to issue in November 2003.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is his policy that the arms embargo upon Iraq should continue in the event of a post-Saddam Hussein administration; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The present arms embargo on Iraq was imposed by the United Nations Security Council under resolution 661(1990). We would support the lifting of this embargo as and when circumstances warrant.

Iraq

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with the (a) US and (b) Turkish Governments on the presence of Turkish troops in northern Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has been in frequent contact with the US Government on issues related to Iraq; from time to time discussions have included this topic. The Foreign Secretary last met Turkish Foreign Minister Yakis at Copenhagen on 13 December. They did not discuss Iraq.

Iraq

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether British Government representatives were invited to the recent meeting in northern Iraq between the US special envoy and Kurdish and Iraqi opposition groups.

Mike O'Brien: The conference was organised by the Iraqi opposition as a follow-up to the conference held in London in December last year. We were invited to attend but, for logistical reasons, decided not to send a representative. However, UK officials continue to maintain contacts with a wide range of Iraqi opposition groups.

Iraq

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is the policy of his Government to support a UN administration in Iraq following any change of regime in that country.

Mike O'Brien: We would support a UN-authorised transitional civilian administration, if there were a change of regime in Iraq. We would want this to be followed by a new broad-based, effective and representative Iraqi Government.

Iraq

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the UK's relations with European countries with regard to Iraq.

Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and I have had frequent discussion on Iraq with European counterparts in multilateral format, most recently at the meeting of the European Union's General Affairs and External Relations Council on 24 February 2003 and the special European Council on 17 February 2003. The position of the European Union is set out in the statement of the European Council on 17 February 2003, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

Israel

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with (a) the Israeli authorities and (b) the United Nations regarding the construction of the concrete separation wall in the West Bank;
	(2)  what representations he has made to (a) the Israeli authorities and (b) the United Nations on the concrete separation wall deviating from the 1967 green line border.

Mike O'Brien: Our Embassy in Tel Aviv has raised with the Government of Israel our concerns about the location and likely impact of the "security fence". We deplore the seizure of Palestinian land, the isolation of Palestinian villages, and the creation of a further physical obstacle to the two-State solution. While we fully understand Israel's need to take steps, within the law, to protect itself from terrorist attack, lasting security can only be achieved through a negotiated peace. We have also discussed the security fence with UN representatives.
	A final settlement must provide for a viable Palestinian State to exist alongside Israel, both within secure and recognised borders. We look forward to the Quartet publishing its road map, which will set out a phased programme leading to a final settlement within three years, soon. In implementing the road map, all parties must also refrain from actions which obstruct the search for peace.

Military Equipment (Overseas Sales)

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the role of UK embassies and diplomatic missions overseas in promoting sales of British military equipment.

Mike O'Brien: Some of our embassies and diplomatic missions have defence sections who help in promoting the acquisition of British defence equipment, and this is supplemented in a small number of missions by defence sales representatives. Heads of mission and their deputies may give support to this work as appropriate.

Mr. Peter Longworth

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Mr. Peter Longworth left his post as British High Commissioner in Harare.

Mike O'Brien: Mr. Peter Longworth left his post as British High Commissioner in Harare on 30 June 2001.

Regional Assistance

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the proportion of regional assistance determined by (a) the EU and (b) the UK Government.

Denis MacShane: Current arrangements for EU regional assistance through the Structural and Cohesion Funds apply from 2000 to 2006. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced to the House on Thursday 6 March, Official Report, column 86WS, the Government have launched a consultation on the future of European Union Structural Funds after 2006.
	The Government have put forward the EU Framework for Devolved Regional Policy as their preferred approach. This would focus EU regional assistance on the poorest member states of the EU; richer member states such as the UK would finance their regional policy domestically, and we would increase UK Government spending to ensure that the UK nations and regions did not lose out financially as a result of reform.

Sinn Fein-IRA

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on investigations and legal proceedings against members of Sinn Fein and the Provisional IRA for activities related to FARC in Colombia since 1998.

Denis MacShane: It would not be appropriate to comment on an on-going investigation or legal proceedings, including those against non-British nationals.

United Nations

Frank Cook: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcomes of the UN Convention on Conventional Weapons Meeting of States Parties in December 2002, with particular reference to the issue of explosive remnants of war.

Mike O'Brien: The States Parties to the 1980 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons agreed at their meeting in December 2002 to negotiate an instrument to reduce the humanitarian risks posed by Explosive Remnants of War. The UK played an active role in efforts to secure this decision at this meeting and the preparatory work carried out by the Group of Governmental Experts throughout the preceding year. The UK will continue to participate in this group as negotiations progress, and we hope States Parties will be able to reach agreement on the text of an instrument by the end of 2003. We also look forward to continued discussions on the parallel issue of Mines Other than Anti-Personnel Mines, as also mandated by the December 2002 meeting of States Parties.

United Nations

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the extant resolutions of the United Nations, indicating the measures taken by Her Majesty's Government to secure compliance with each one.

Bill Rammell: The resolutions of the Security Council and General Assembly are listed on the UN website (www.un.org). The very large number of resolutions (e.g. 300 from the General Assembly in 2002 alone) makes it impractical to comment in detail on the follow up to each without incurring disproportionate cost. Nonetheless the Government seek to ensure compliance with all UN Security Council resolutions.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Private Clubs (Sex Discrimination)

David Stewart: To ask the Minister for Women what recent research she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated which assesses discriminatory treatment experienced by women at private members' clubs open to both men and women.

Patricia Hewitt: There has been no formal assessment of discriminatory treatment experienced by women members of mixed sex private clubs.
	We have consulted interested parties. For example, the Club and Institute Union (CIU), which represents over two million club members, and to which the vast majority of "working men's clubs" belong, reports that of their 2,680 clubs, some 60 per cent. still deny their female members full rights.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Accounting and Audit Failures

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will appoint inspectors to investigate the accounting and audit failures at (a) My Travel, (b) RBG Resources and (c) Slug and Lettuce.

Melanie Johnson: If my hon. Friend will send me any evidence in support of his requests to appoint inspectors to My Travel Group Plc and SFI Group Plc and its subsidiary, the Slug and Lettuce Group Ltd., I will consider it.
	The Serious Fraud Office announced in May 2002 that it is investigating RBG Resources plc. This Department would not normally duplicate those inquiries.

Accounting and Audit Failures

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will initiate an investigation into accounting failures at Amey.

Melanie Johnson: If my hon. Friend will send me any evidence in support of his request to appoint inspectors, I will consider it.

Accounting and Audit Failures

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will appoint inspectors to investigate accounting irregularities acknowledged by Cable and Wireless.

Melanie Johnson: If my hon. Friend will send me any evidence in support of his request to appoint inspectors, I will consider it.

Accounting and Audit Failures

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when DTI inspectors were appointed to investigate the affairs of Queens Moat Houses; when the report was published; what the report cost; and what regulatory action was taken against the auditors.

Melanie Johnson: Inspectors were appointed to investigate the affairs of Queens Moat Houses plc (QMH) under section 432(2) of the Companies Act 1985 on 12 November 1993. The inspectors submitted a report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State under section 177 of the Financial Services Act 1986 on 30 September 1997. Such reports are not published and are subject to severe disclosure restrictions. Following submission of the section 177 report, on 12 June 1998, the Accountants' Joint Disciplinary Scheme (JDS) announced an investigation. Following JDS tribunals, three former QMH directors have been excluded from the ICAEW:
	Maurice Hard, a former partner in QMH's former auditors, Bird Luckin and a non-executive director of QMH
	David Hersey, former finance director
	Allan Porter, former deputy finance director.
	The JDS has announced that tribunals as regards Bird Luckin, and a partner in Bird Luckin, Alan Radford FCA are to be convened. Martin Marcus, former deputy chairman of QMH, has appealed against the JDS tribunal decision as regards him.
	Additionally, proceedings have been brought on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State under section 8 of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986. These have resulted in disqualification orders of 8 and 7 years respectively being made in July 2000 against David Hersey and Allan Porter and an undertaking not to act as a director for a period of 10 years being given by Martin Marcus in December 2001. Defended disqualification proceedings against John Bairstow, the former chairman of QMH, continue.
	It is expected that the inspectors will submit their final report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in the near future. The cost of the investigation to 1 December 2002 was £7.3 million.

Accounting and Audit Failures

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will appoint inspectors to investigate the accounting errors at RBG Resources.

Melanie Johnson: If my hon. Friend will send me any evidence in support of his requests to appoint inspectors to My Travel Group Plc and SFI Group Plc and its subsidiary, the Slug and Lettuce Group Limited, I will consider it.
	The Serious Fraud Office announced in May 2002 that it is investigating RBG Resources Plc. This Department would not normally duplicate those enquiries.

Accounting and Audit Failures

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when DTI inspectors were appointed to investigate the affairs of Resort Hotels; when the report was published; what the report cost; and what regulatory action was taken against auditors.

Melanie Johnson: There has been no appointment of inspectors under the Companies Act and therefore no publishable report.
	Further to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Makerfield (Mr. McCartney) to my hon. Friend's question on 8 July 1997, Official Report, column 414, where he referred to the inquiry by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, I can confirm that following an investigation by the Accountants' Joint Disciplinary Scheme ("JDS") and subsequent JDS Tribunals, in January 2001, Mr. Roland Peter Lewis FCA, former Finance Director of Resort Hotels plc ("Resort"), was severely reprimanded and fined £15,000 and in February 2001, the former auditors of Resort, Coopers and Lybrand, were fined £100,000 and a former Coopers and Lybrand partner, Alun Thomas FCA, was fined £5,000 and severely reprimanded.

Accounting and Audit Failures

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will appoint inspectors to investigate the accounting failures at Swiss Life.

Melanie Johnson: If my hon. Friend will send me any evidence in support of his requests to appoint inspectors, I will consider it.

Export Credit Guarantees

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many inquiries have been carried out each year since 1995 to check whether export credit guarantees cover has not been offered on commissions.

Patricia Hewitt: It is not clear what form of inquiry my hon. Friend refers. If he cares to write to me with details I will consider the points he raises.

Export Credit Guarantees

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when her Department's inspectors were appointed to investigate the affairs of Polly Peck; when the report was published; what the report cost; and what regulatory action was taken against auditors.

Melanie Johnson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State did not appoint inspectors to investigate the affairs of Polly Peck.

Ministerial Transport

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for her Department in 2002.

Patricia Hewitt: The information is as follows.
	(a) The estimated cost to the Department for ministerial cars and drivers for the financial year 2002–03 is £387,000.
	(b) The Department have devolved to local management the authorisation of travel claims for its staff, subject to checking procedures. It does not record details of the cost of taxis used by staff in the Department. To obtain data on this to produce a meaningful estimate of the information requested would entail disproportionate cost.

Private Clubs (Sex Discrimination)

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to end the exemption for private clubs in the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.

Patricia Hewitt: I welcome the Sex Discrimination in Private Clubs Bill introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Mr. Dhanda) on 4 February 2003, which seeks to extend the scope of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 to cover mixed-sex clubs of 25 members or more. We welcomed a similar Bill introduced in the other place in the last session by Lord Faulkner of Worcester.
	There can be no justification for treating women as second-class citizens in private clubs. Such practices are out of date and contrary to this Government's principles of opportunity for all.
	While I can make no commitment on parliamentary time, this is a matter which we will keep under review.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Formula Spending Share

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he took, in establishing formula spending share, to ensure that compensation for sparsity in the education formula did not benefit urban authorities with a large number of small primary schools; what proportion of the aggregate national education FSS allocation was distributed on the basis of sparsity; and if he will list the authorities which benefited from the education sparsity factor.

David Miliband: The issue of sparsity was addressed in three papers to the Education Formula Strategy Group. Sparsely populated authorities face higher costs as they have higher proportions of small schools than non-sparse authorities. The education formula uses sparsity as the funding factor, rather than the actual number of small schools so that authorities are compensated for the need they have, rather than the way they choose to organise their provision. Therefore urban authorities with a large number of small primary schools will not benefit from this factor. 1.8 per cent. (£440 million) of Education Formula Spending for 2003–04 was distributed on the basis of sparsity. The authorities that benefit are listed in order of decreasing sparsity:
	Isles of Scilly
	Herefordshire
	North Yorkshire
	Rutland
	Shropshire
	Lincolnshire
	Devon
	Wiltshire
	Cumbria
	Norfolk
	East Riding of Yorkshire
	Cornwall
	Northumberland
	Somerset
	Cambridgeshire
	Dorset
	Suffolk
	North Lincolnshire
	Oxfordshire
	Gloucestershire
	West Berkshire
	Isle of Wight Council
	Warwickshire
	Bedfordshire
	Northamptonshire
	Buckinghamshire
	East Sussex
	Derbyshire
	Leicestershire
	Durham
	Doncaster
	Cheshire
	Staffordshire
	Hampshire
	Essex
	Worcestershire
	Nottinghamshire
	North Somerset
	Kent
	South Gloucestershire
	West Sussex
	Lancashire
	Windsor and Maidenhead
	The Wrekin
	Darlington
	Milton Keynes
	Bath and North East
	Somerset
	Peterborough
	Wokingham
	Redcar and Cleveland
	Calderdale
	Hertfordshire
	North East Lincolnshire
	Kirklees
	Surrey
	Swindon
	York
	Solihull
	Rotherham
	Stockton-on-Tees
	Medway
	Knowsley
	Barnsley
	Hartlepool
	Thurrock
	Blackburn
	Leeds
	Bradford
	Oldham
	Wakefield
	Bracknell Forest
	St. Helens
	Sheffield
	Gateshead
	City of London
	Halton
	Warrington
	Bromley

Faith Schools

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the proposals for new faith schools that have been published since September 2001 and approved by School Organisation Committees, broken down by (a) the faith, (b) the status of the proposed school, (c) the amount of public funds committed to the project by central Government, (d) the amount of public funds committed to the project by local government and (e) the proposed opening date.

David Miliband: The table lists the proposals for new faith schools that have been published since September 2001 and approved by School Organisation Committees.
	Capital costs shown are the most recent estimates, but final decisions on the level of public funding will be determined when detailed plans have been received or are agreed by the Department's architects.
	
		
			 LEA School name (if known) Faith Category Governor costs—eligible for 90 per cent. grant (£000) LEA capital costs (£000) Proposed opening date 
		
		
			 Dorset St. Mary the Virgin CE Primary C of E VA 2,093 68 1 September 2003 
			 Kent Name not known (primary school) C of E/ Methodist VA 2,000 Nil 1 September 2004 
			 Leicester City Name not known (primary school) C of E VA 2,305 Nil 1 September 2004 
			 Swindon Name not known (primary school) C of E VA 1,347 234 1 September 2004 
			 Wandsworth Name not known (primary school) Muslim VA 5,400 Nil 1 September 2004 
			 Doncaster Rossington CE High School C of E VA Nil Nil 1 September 2002 
			 Dorset* Name not known (primary school) C of E VA Nil Nil 1 September 2003 
			 Essex New Model Special School C of E VA Nil Nil 1 September 2003 
			 Northants Name not known (secondary school) C of E VA Nil Nil 1 September 2004 
			 Warrington Sankey Valley St. James CE Primary C of E VA Nil Nil 1 September 2002 
			 Warrington Sir Thomas Boteler CE High C of E VA Nil Nil 1 September 2002 
			 Wiltshire Wyvern College C of E VA Nil Nil 1 January 2003 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead Churchmead CE VA School C of E VA Nil Nil 1 September 2002 
		
	
	* The proposals for the new Church of England school in Dorset were approved conditionally ie subject to the acquisition of some land and also the necessary planning permission being obtained.

Ministerial Visits

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list visits to higher education institutions by Ministers in his Department that have taken place since 22 January.

Charles Clarke: I have visited the Institute of Education, the University of East Anglia and Wolverhampton University.
	My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education has visited Bristol University, Cambridge University, the University of East London and Gloucester University.
	My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Schools has visited Birmingham University.
	In addition all Ministers have held a range of meetings with Vice-Chancellors, Student Unions and others.

Modern Languages

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 26 February 2003, Official Report, columns 588–89W, whether modern languages are defined as a (a) generic and (b) specialist learning skill in an English-style baccalaureate; and which continental baccalaureate systems do not include modern languages as a generic skill.

David Miliband: Modern foreign languages are generally included as a requirement in European baccalaureate type qualifications. In the context of an English-style baccalaureate, we explain in our policy document 14–19: "opportunity and excellence" that we have asked a Working Group chaired by Mike Tomlinson to take forward work on possible longer-term 14–19 developments including a unified framework of qualifications for this age group. It would be premature at this stage to be developing specific baccalaureate models before the group has reported. The group has been asked to issue an interim report within a year and to finalise its work within 18 months.

Post-16 Education

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the post-16 staying on rate was for (a) Doncaster and (b) Barnsley in (i) 1992, (ii) 1997 and (iii) 2002.

David Miliband: The percentage of 16-year-olds participating in full-time education for Barnsley LEA and Doncaster LEA in 1992, 1997 and 2000, the latest year for which figures are available, is set out as follows.
	
		Percentage of 16-year-olds participating in full-time education(2)
		
			  1992 1997 2000 
		
		
			 Barnsley LEA 54 52 56 
			 Doncaster LEA 59 58 63 
		
	
	(2) Includes participation in schools, sixth form colleges and further education colleges.
	Participation rates by LEA for 16 and 17-year-olds are published in an annual statistical bulletin, 'Participation in Education and Training by 16 and 17 Year Olds in Each Local Area in England'.

Pupil Expenditure

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent by each local education authority per (a) primary and (b) secondary pupil in descending order in the latest year for which figures are available.

David Miliband: The information requested is contained in tables, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries.

Pupil Expenditure

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the expenditure per child in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in (i) Westminster and (ii) Kensington and Chelsea was in (A) 1997–98 and (B) 2001–02.

David Miliband: The information requested is contained in the following table.
	
		
			  Nursery/Primary Secondary 
		
		
			 1997–98   
			 Kensington and Chelsea 2,920 3,810 
			 Westminster 2,810 3,440 
			
			 2001–02 (provisional)   
			 Kensington and Chelsea 3,470 4,360 
			 Westminster 4,060 4,620 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The figures consist of Net Institutional Expenditure (NIE) per pupil in nursery/primary and secondary schools and does not include central costs.
	2. Cash figures are adjusted to 2001–02 levels using December 2002 GDP deflators.
	3. The figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	4. The expenditure data in 1997–98 is drawn from the annual 'RO1' spending returns which local authorities submitted to the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions. 2001–02 data is taken from Local Education Authorities' section 52 outturn statements submitted to the DfES. The pupil data are drawn from the DfES Annual Schools' Census.

Sex Education

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what options are available to parents of children attending schools which teach forms of sexual education that they deem inappropriate for their children to be exposed to on moral or religious grounds.

David Miliband: Parents should be consulted by their child's school about its sex and relationship education (SRE) policy and informed about what is taught in SRE lessons. Policies should be culturally appropriate and inclusive of all children. Consulting pupils and their families will help establish what is appropriate and acceptable to them. Where schools work within the SRE guidelines that the Department published in July 2000, and consult effectively, parents should be reassured about the content of lessons.
	Parents do have the right to withdraw their child from some, or all, SRE lessons, but not statutory science lessons. Parents who are considering such a step should talk it through with their child and then with either the headteacher or another senior teacher at the school. The schools should provide information about the lessons being missed and ideas for other sources of support for the parent to fulfil the task of educating their child.

Sixth Form Funding

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list schools with sixth forms for which the provisional funding for their sixth form for the next financial year would be lower than that for the current year, giving the (a) cash value and (b) percentage of the reduction in each case.

David Miliband: holding answer 10 March 2003
	The Learning and Skills Council has now announced finalised sixth form allocations for the 2003–04 academic year. These will be used by local education authorities in calculating schools' budget shares for the financial year 2003–04. The allocations are primarily the responsibility of the LSC and John Harwood, the Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member and a copy of his letter will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

Specialist Schools

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools with a specialist designation there were in each of the last five years; and what percentage of specialist schools have chosen to exercise the option to select by aptitude.

David Miliband: holding answer 10 March 2003
	The number of schools in the Specialist Schools Programme in September for the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1998 327 
			 1999 403 
			 2000 536 
			 2001 685 
			 2002 992 
		
	
	Our figures suggest that less than 6 per cent. of schools that were specialist in summer 2002 (685 schools) used aptitude as part of their admission arrangements.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Accountancy Services

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total cost to her Department was for accountancy services in 2002.

Clare Short: In 2002 DFID spent £940,000 on accountancy services for the development programme and £75,000 on support to our accounts department. These figures do not take into account lower value contracts, details of which are not held centrally.

Afghanistan

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the United Nations Statement of 20 February regarding the potential for terrorist acitivity in Southern Afghanistan in the event of military action in Iraq; and what impact the statement will have on her Department's humanitarian programme in Afghanistan.

Clare Short: DFID's support for humanitarian (emergency) activities is channelled through UN Agencies and NGOs. We will continue to monitor the security situation, and needs, in conjunction with the Afghan Transitional Authority and the UN.
	DFID has recently received reports of an improvement in the security situation in the South. The Afghan National Army and the national police force are now much more visible in Kandahar. All the NGOs (with the exception of Oxfam) that had left Kandahar due to security concerns have now returned as security has improved.

International Organisation for Migration

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with the UN regarding the funding of a visit by the International Organisation for Migration to Liberia.

Clare Short: We funded the visit of a four-person IOM team to Liberia in October 2002, to conduct an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) assessment survey. The visit was to evaluate the numbers, vulnerability and socio-economic profiles of the IDP population; to assess the cost of potential future programmes of assistance; and to participate in a UN co-ordinated IDP registration exercise, launched in collaboration with the Liberian authorities.
	Subject to agreement on detailed objectives, we have agreed in principle to fund a return visit, in part to carry out some preliminary work on identifying urgent caseloads of IDPs who can be returned to their homes, and the costs of such an exercise.

International Organisation for Migration

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment her Department has made of the security issue in UNHCR transit centres and surrounding villages in Grand Gedeh County, Liberia.

Clare Short: The recent eruption of fighting, apparently between Liberian opposition groups and Liberian armed forces, around Toe Town in Grand Gedeh County, has seriously affected the UNHCR transit centres in Toe Town itself and in Zwedru. There are reports that the Liberian opposition groups involved are operating from within Cote d'lvoire.
	UNHCR has reported that, following an attack on Toe town on 28 February, local residents and an estimated 2,500 Ivorian refugees and third country nationals fled towards Zwedru. UNHCR has established a transit centre at Zwedru. A skeleton staff of UNHCR, WFP and NGO staff are running the centre. On 4 March, following rumours that the town would be attacked, many people left Zwedru. As a precautionary measure, a month's food rations were issued to all refugees and third country nationals staying in the centre.
	The security situation in Grand Gedeh County remains unstable and uncertain. This is due to the combined effects of fighting in Liberia and Cote d'lvoire. We are strongly supporting efforts by the international community to press for an end to conflict in both countries.

Iraq

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on aid to be made available to Iraq for the forthcoming year.

Clare Short: Our ongoing programme of humanitarian support in Iraq, is expected to disburse around £6 million in the forthcoming financial year. I have also recently committed an additional £10 million from the current financial year to assist UN agencies and NGOs with contingency planning. My Department maintains a contingency reserve of £88 million, which I would draw on in the event of any worsening humanitarian crisis in Iraq.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the impact on Iraqi civilians, in terms of (a) hunger and (b) disease, of military hostilities against Iraq.

Clare Short: The vulnerability of the Iraqi people to humanitarian crisis should not be underestimated. People's private coping strategies have been worn away by years of misrule. 60 per cent. of the population are totally dependent for food on the UN Oil For Food Programme which is likely to be disrupted in the event of military action. A majority live in urban areas, with a dependence on electrically-powered water and sanitation systems which might also be disrupted, leading to a number of potential health problems. My Department is in regular discussion with the Ministry of Defence, the UN, partner Governments and other humanitarian actors about minimising the humanitarian risks of any conflict to the Iraqi people, and responding to any crises which might arise.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the (a) cost and (b) logistics of aid operations established to replace the oil for food programme for Iraq.

Clare Short: Current annual expenditures under the UN oil for food programme run at around $10 billion, the largest elements of which are the food allocation ($3 billion) and basic service delivery supplies (health, education, water and sanitation, and electricity—$2 billion). In the event of military action, we will work with others to minimise disruption to the programme and re-establish it as quickly as possible. During any period in which the programme was not able to function, the responsibility to provide immediate humanitarian relief would fall to those best placed to help, and my Department has been working with the Ministry of Defence and other partners on how best this might be done. The potential scale of this task, for a population of whom 60 per cent. are dependent on the programme, is enormous. The costs involved would obviously vary depending on the length of any disruption, but the ability of the international community to meet them will be greatly enhanced if a lead role for the UN is put in place for the relief and reconstruction of Iraq following any conflict.

Liberia

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with the UN regarding the rights of third country nationals to receive UNHCR care in the transit centres of Grand Gedeh County, Liberia.

Clare Short: Although UNHCR is providing shelter and food for many of the estimated 12,000 third country nationals in Liberia, most of whom are from Burkina Faso and Mali, it is not part of its mandate to do so. They are unable to return to their countries of origin because of the closure of the Guinean border by the Guinean authorities. UNHCR has agreed with IOM that they will take over responsibility for third country nationals. We have recently funded a visit to Liberia by IOM to look into the situation of IDPs. We are discussing with them possible funding for a second mission to include an assessment of the situation of third country nationals and the preparation of a plan for their return to their countries of origin, to be used in part to persuade the Guinean authorities to allow them transit through Guinea.

Liberia

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with the UN regarding the food scarcity affecting (a) third party nationals, (b) Russian refugees and (c) Liberian returnees in UNHCR transit centres in Grand Gedeh County, Liberia.

Clare Short: Due to the serious deterioration of the security situation in Grand Gedeh County, and the movement of people in response to attacks or fear of attacks, distribution of food rations has been difficult. UNHCR has issued one month's rations to refugees and third country nationals in Zwedru transit camp. Those who are not in reach of the transit centre are almost certainly very short of adequate supplies of food. Third country nationals are prevented from leaving Liberia through Guinea to return to their countries of origin by the closure of the Guinean border by the Guinean authorities. We are keeping closely in touch with UNHCR and IOM on efforts to address this issue.
	UNHCR does not know of any Russian refugees in the area.

Liberia

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with the International Organisation for Migration regarding the provision of care to third country nationals in the event of military intervention in Iraq.

Clare Short: My Department has held several discussions in recent weeks with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) at their Headquarters in Geneva and with regional representatives in Jordan, Cyprus, Kuwait and Egypt. These discussions have focused on IOM's planning for possible outflows of third country nationals from Iraq. They are preparing for a wide range of scenarios. In the event of movements of large numbers of people, IOM is likely to be the lead agency responsible for the support and transfer of up to 70,000 third country nationals from border areas or from neighbouring countries to their countries of origin, and would assist UNHCR with the movement of asylum seekers from border areas to designated camps. The largest group of third country nationals in Iraq are Egyptians, many of whom might be expected to try to leave the country through Jordan in the event of military action.

Overseas Trips

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list each of the overseas trips made by herself and other members of her ministerial team in 2002; and what the (a) purpose and (b) cost of each trip was.

Clare Short: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 22 January 2003, Official Report, column 334W, by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office.

Pre-natal Scanning

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  if she will list those (a) countries and (b) organisations her Department financially supports for the provision of (i) ultrasound and (ii) other pre-natal scanning technology; and how much is given to each such country and organisation;
	(2)  what financial support her Department gives for the provision of (a) ultrasound and (b) other pre-natal scanning technology.

Clare Short: DFID does not support any projects or programmes with the specific objective of providing pre-natal scanning technology to health facilities. At country level, DFID supports maternal health services through safe motherhood programmes, and as a part of wider health sector development. While in some circumstances improving the quality of maternal health care may include the provision of pre-natal scanning, use of such advanced technologies in most of the DFID focus countries would not be the most appropriate use of scarce resources, and therefore would not be provided.
	My Department also funds other organisations involved in maternal health care, including the International Planned Parenthood Association (IPPF) and the United Nations Family Planning Association (UNFPA). These organisations, when appropriate, provide equipment for pre-natal scanning to the ante-natal care facilities they support in order to better diagnose and manage complications of pregnancy. Because the funding they receive from DFID is in the form of a core contribution, it is not possible to identify how much (if any) is channelled into provision of scanning equipment.

Sudan

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the Governments of (a) Uganda, (b) Kenya and (c) Ethiopia in relation to the refugee situation on their borders with Sudan.

Clare Short: Following an inter-agency Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) mission in November 2002, supported by the Humanitarian Aid Commission and Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Authority, a Displaced Persons Task Force under the auspices of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), with representatives from UNDP, UNICEF, IOM and others, has been established. UNHCR are also participating. We continue to look for and support sustainable solutions for effective reintegration of the millions of displaced people across the region. An enduring peace, and subsequent stability, is the key determinant in this regard.
	In terms of specific discussions that we have had with regards to the refugee situation on the borders with Sudan, we have:
	(a) on Uganda kept in close touch with humanitarian agencies, including UNHCR, as over the past year the activities of the rebel group the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) has caused increasing insecurity in parts of northern Uganda, affecting both the refugees and host population. In co-operation with the Government of Uganda UNHCR has an innovative self reliance strategy in place in Uganda, under which refugees have been provided with access to land and local services;
	(b) We have had no recent discussions with the Government of Kenya concerning the refugee situation on their border with Sudan;
	(c) We have not had any direct contact with the Ethiopian Government on this issue, but continue to monitor the situation through contact with NGO partners.

West Africa

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with the governments of (a) France, (b) Mali, (c) Burkina Faso, (d) Togo and (e) Senegal regarding their nationals trapped in refugee camps on the border of Liberia and the Ivory Coast.

Clare Short: My Department has not had any direct discussions with the governments of France, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo and Senegal about third country nationals trapped in refugee camps on the Cote d'lvoire and Liberian border. Over the past two years we have contributed about £2.6 million to UNHCR for assistance to refugees in the region, as well as £1 million in humanitarian assistance specifically for work in Cote d'lvoire. The latter includes assistance to internally displaced people and refugees of many nationalities who have been affected by the conflict in both government and rebel controlled areas. We are continuing to monitor the humanitarian situation and are working closely with others in the international community to help bring about a swift and peaceful resolution to the conflict.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Accountancy Services

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total cost to her Department was for accountancy services in 2002.

Kim Howells: The cost to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport of external accountancy services in the financial year 2001–02 was £218,051.

Advertising Expenditure (Scotland)

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Department spent on advertising in Scotland in each year since 1999 on (a)television, (b) newspapers, (c) radio, (d) magazines, (e) billboards and (f) sporting events.

Kim Howells: No expenditure has been committed by the Department in any of these areas since 1999 either in Scotland or elsewhere in the UK.

Award Schemes

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the award schemes in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 promoted by the Department; what their scope was; when the relevant participating organisations are scheduled to be sent results; and whether other parties will be given notification of the results at the same time.

Kim Howells: The Department is represented on the awards panel which confirms and finalises the result of each application for the Artsmark award, which is awarded by the Arts Council of England. Artsmark is a national arts award for schools in England. It is a symbol of recognition for schools making a strong commitment to the full range of the arts—art and design, music, dance and drama. There is one round of awards per year.
	Round three results will be announced at the end of May. Schools will be notified first, then results will be announced to the public.
	The Beacon Council scheme is promoted largely by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, However the Department is involved in criteria setting and bid analysis when the theme of the award relates to the Department's areas.
	The Beacon Council themes in which the Department has been involved are; 2001–02—Regeneration through Culture, Sport and Tourism and 2002–03—Libraries as a community resource.

BBC

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to extend National Audit Office scrutiny to the BBC.

Kim Howells: The National Audit Office (NAO) already has access to the BBC to examine the value for money of the administration of the television licensing system and the BBC World Service. As indicated in the Government's response of 6 March 2003 to the Public Accounts Committee report "Collecting the Television Licence Fee", the coming review of the BBC's Charter provides the context in which to consider the case for extending NAO access to the BBC. As part of that review the Government will decide what should be the future role of the C&AG in relation to the Corporation.

British Library

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the income receipts of the British Library were in each year from 1990–91 to 2003–04 (planned), excluding grant in aid; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The total income of the British Library, less any grant in aid received, but including all trading income, investment income, donations and sponsorship is shown in the table for the period 1990–91 to 2003–04. The figures for 2002–03 and 2003–04 are based on budgets and business plans.
	
		
			 Financial year Non GIA income (£000) 
		
		
			 1990–91 24,311 
			 1991–92 29,532 
			 1992–93 27,105 
			 1993–94 30,498 
			 1994–95 32,722 
			 1995–96 35,753 
			 1996–97 32,459 
			 1997–98 35,025 
			 1998–99 40,009 
			 1999–2000 33,867 
			 2000–01 *27,997 
			 2001–02 32,283 
			 2002–03 31,041 
			 2003–04 31,263 
		
	
	* The figure for 2000–01 shows a dip in relation to the medium term trend. We are advised by the British Library that this is largely attributable to a change in accounting which resulted in payments for services used at the beginning of 2000–01 being attributed to1999–2000.

Community Fund/New Opportunities Fund

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to consult with the voluntary sector concerning the proposed merger of the Community Fund and the New Opportunities Fund; whether the consultation period on the merger will be 12 weeks in accordance with the compact; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The business case for a merger between the Community Fund and the New Opportunities Fund is strong, but we shall consult further with the voluntary sector and other interested parties before determining the nature of the new body. Proposals emerging from these discussions will be included in a White Paper later this year, which would provide a 12-week consultation period, in accordance with the compact.

English Heritage

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many properties have been compulsorily purchased by English Heritage in each year since 1999.

Kim Howells: English Heritage has not compulsory purchased any properties since 1999. It served a compulsory purchase order in that year, in respect of a property in the City of Westminster, but the owner commenced repair work and the order was put in abeyance. English Heritage has not served a compulsory purchase order since then.

Free Television Licences

Ronnie Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will estimate the annual cost of providing free television licences for retired people over the ages of (a) 70 years and (b) 65 years.

Kim Howells: The estimated cost of providing free television licences for every household with a member aged 70 years or over is £200 million a year, while providing free television licences for every household with a member aged 65 years or over would cost an estimated £410 million a year. These costs are additional to the provision of free television licences for people aged 75 and over.

Hyde Park

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what costs were incurred in the clearing and restoration of Hyde Park following the Queen's Jubilee Celebrations.

Kim Howells: The cost of cleaning up amounted to £6,000 and the cost of reinstatement was £5,000 (both figures exclusive of VAT).

Hyde Park

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what costs were incurred in the clearing and restoration of Hyde Park following the Stop the War rally on 15 February.

Kim Howells: The cost of cleaning up after the demonstration amounted to £10,000 and the cost of reinstatement is estimated at £140,000 (both figures exclusive of VAT).

Listed Buildings

Tony Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) Grade I and (b) Grade II listed buildings there are in (i) Northamptonshire and (ii) the Borough of Northampton; and what public funds, with particular reference to Lottery funds, have been spent on them in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Kim Howells: There are 191 Grade I, 356 Grade II* and 5,833 Grade II listed buildings in Northamptonshire, and 14 Grade I, 23 Grade II* and 390 Grade II listed buildings in the Borough of Northampton. English Heritage funding made available over the past five years is listed as follows:
	
		
			  Amount in £ 
		
		
			 Financial year  
			 1997–98 212,399 
			 1998–99 51,817 
			 1999–2000 104,896 
			 2000–01 68,236 
			 2001–02 19,826 
			   
			 Year  
			 1997 212,399 
			 1998 49,175 
			 1999 45,792 
			 2000 123,536 
			 2001 25,272 
		
	
	The information on Lottery funding is not immediately available. It is being put together now. I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as it is available.

Overseas Trips

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list each of the overseas trips made by herself and other members of her ministerial team in 2002; and what the (a) purpose and (b) cost of each trip was.

Kim Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 22 January 2003, Official Report, column 334W.

Tourism

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to promote (a) tourist attractions and (b) resorts outside London.

Kim Howells: The British Tourist Authority has a target in its Funding Agreement with my Department to promote a regional spread of overseas visitors to the UK. The Department also contributes funding (£250,000 in 2002–03) to the Greater London Authority to help support its statutory duty of promoting London as a Gateway to the rest of the UK.
	As part of the Government's tourism reform programme the new national tourism organisation will be launched on 1 April 2003 with a remit that will include domestic marketing. Also, the Regional Development Agencies in England will from 1 April play a stronger part in the strategic leadership of tourism, and this will help stimulate awareness of the importance of maintaining high quality amenities and services across the country, including traditional resorts. Local Authorities, working with tourist attractions, also play an important role in attracting visitors.

Tourism

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to increase the numbers of visitors to the UK from (a) EU countries and (b) non-EU countries.

Kim Howells: The British Tourism Authority (BTA) is responsible for promoting Britain overseas. It has offices around the world which undertake a full range of promotional activities in 27 countries, including EU and non-EU countries. Its activities include advertising, marketing, direct mail, new media, travel trade liaison, press and public relations work, to increase the number of visitors to Britain.

Tourism

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total Government expenditure on the promotion of tourism in the UK to visitors from overseas was in 2002.

Kim Howells: In 2002–03, the total amount of funding for tourism promotion overseas was £57.4 million. DCMS allocated the British Tourist Authority £35.5 million in baseline grant in aid for the promotion of Britain overseas as a tourist destination. An additional £20 million was allocated to help tourism to recover from the impact of foot and mouth disease and 11 September. A further £1.9 million was allocated to the Greater London Authority for the promotion of the capital as a tourist destination and as a gateway to the rest of the UK.

Tourism

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what targets are identified under the current grant in aid funding agreement with the English Tourism Council.

Kim Howells: Funding agreement targets agreed between the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the English Tourism Council (ETC) are included in the ETC's recent annual report, which was laid before Parliament and is available in the Libraries of both Houses.

DEFENCE

Anti-personnel Mines

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many anti-personnel mines belonging to other countries are stored on UK territory, broken down by country of storage; and which countries these weapons belong to.

Adam Ingram: There are no anti-personnel mines belonging to other countries stored on United Kingdom territory.

Armed Forces Deployment (Gulf)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British armed forces personnel are deployed to the Gulf region.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the statements my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has made in the House where he has detailed the composition and deployments of United Kingdom forces from all three Services to the Middle East region, presenting a significant and credible threat of force in support of UNSCR 1441 and the disarmament of Iraq.
	We currently envisage the total deployment of around 45,000 servicemen and women. The majority of the UK's total force package has now successfully deployed to theatre, making a significant contribution to the flexible and balanced range of coalition capabilities.

Dol Dol Primary School

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps were taken to (a) address and (b) redress complaints of Masai women following the meeting on 19 October 1983 between representatives of the women with the officer commanding troops involved in reconstruction of the Dol Dol primary school in Kenya; how many incidents are alleged to have been committed by members of Her Majesty's armed forces; how many admissions of responsibility or apology have been sent; how many disciplinary actions have been taken against serving soldiers; and how many have been dismissed from the Army.

Adam Ingram: A document relating to the meeting purportedly held on 19 October 1983 has recently been disclosed to the Department and is currently under consideration. However, no formal claims or legal proceedings have been served on the Ministry of Defence in respect of alleged assaults on Masai women in Kenya by British soldiers.

EU Military Capabilities

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his US counterpart regarding the European Union plans for undertaking the NATO operation in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Adam Ingram: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has had no discussions with his United States counterpart regarding the European Union plans for undertaking the NATO operation in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

EU Military Capabilities

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with European defence ministers about measures to improve EU military capabilities;
	(2)  when he last discussed progress on the ESDP with the (a) French, (b) German and (c) Belgian defence ministers.

Geoff Hoon: I last discussed progress on ESDP (a) with my French counterpart at the Le Touquet summit on 4 February 2003, (b) with my German counterpart in Berlin on 5 November 2002, and (c) with my Belgian counterpart on 19 November 2002. I discussed European military capability improvements with other EU Defence Ministers at our informal meeting on 4–5 October 2002, and at the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) on 19 November 2002. The subject was also discussed in the three bilateral meetings mentioned earlier, as well as meetings with my Italian and Greek counterparts on 21 January and 3 March 2003 respectively. We are working on remedying key European defence capability shortfalls under the European Capabilities Action Plan established last year.

Fylingdales

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) US, (b) RAF, (c) MOD and (d) Ministry of Defence Police Agency personnel are deployed at RAF Fylingdales.

Adam Ingram: There are: 76 RAF personnel, 43 MOD civilian personnel, 189 UK contractors, one USAF personnel, and 10 US contractors employed at RAF Fylingdales. I am withholding the information relating to the Ministry of Defence Police deployed at RAF Fylingdales in accordance with Exemption 1 (Defence, security and international relations) of the Codes of Practice on Access to Government Information as it could compromise the security of the Station.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what investigations have been established in his Department into the role played by Royal Ordnance in providing military equipment and explosives to Iraq.

Adam Ingram: Information on inquiries into the export of Defence Equipment and Dual-Use Goods to Iraq is contained in the Report of that same name by Sir Richard Scott that was published on 15 February 1996.

Iraq

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many (a) medical and (b) nursing reservists he expects to be called up in the event of conflict in Iraq; and from which clinical specialities these will be drawn;
	(2)  whether medical and nursing reservists will be rotated in the event of conflict in Iraq.

Lewis Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

La Spezia

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with (a) his Italian counterpart and (b) NATO officials about the security implications for British warships at La Spezia resulting from the presence of personnel attached to impounded Iraqi corvettes.

Adam Ingram: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not had discussions with either his Italian counterpart or NATO officials on this matter. There are currently no British warships based in La Spezia or indeed scheduled to visit the port and consequently on that basis there are currently no perceived security implications.

NATO

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts about giving the alliance a greater role in Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and his officials have on several occasions discussed possible roles for NATO in Afghanistan with NATO colleagues. We fully support the decision by Germany and the Netherlands to benefit from NATO assistance in their leadership of ISAF III.

NATO

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for the European Union to undertake the NATO operation in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Geoff Hoon: The European Council indicated the European Union's willingness to lead a military operation in Bosnia following SFOR, when it met at Copenhagen on 12–13 December last year. Initial consultation has commenced with NATO, and other international players, with a view to the EU potentially assuming responsibility for the stabilisation role in Bosnia next year.

Political Memorabilia/Emblems

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rules govern (a) the display of political memorabilia and emblems and (b) the wearing of sectarian emblems and apparel inside army barracks in Northern Ireland; at what level responsibility rests for removing inappropriate displays; and how many personnel have been disciplined for offences arising from such displays since April 1998.

Adam Ingram: The Army has clear guidelines on Equal Opportunities Policy and Complaints which are laid out in Army General Administrative Instructions. These are reinforced in Northern Ireland by Northern Ireland Standing Operations Procedures (NISOP) including a section on Equal Opportunities and Diversity with an annex on Northern Ireland Sectarian Harassment Policy and Guidelines which covers areas such as flags and emblems. The implementation of these policies rests with the appropriate Commander of a Battalion, unit or station. A copy of this NISOP was placed in the Library of the House of Commons in April 2000. Since 1998 the Army Board has considered administrative action against one officer and awarded an administrative sanction against him.

Royal Navy Vessels

Richard Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many invitations to tender have been made to Farrow System Ltd. in relation to the cleaning of (a) Royal Navy vessels and (b) glass-fibre reinforced materials in Royal Navy vessels since completing work on HMS Quorn and on the orlop deck of HMS Victory;
	(2)  how much has been spent on surface cleaning of (a) Royal Navy vessels and (b) glass-fibre reinforced materials in Royal Navy vessels since 2nd February 2000;
	(3)  if he will make a statement on the application of public procurement procedures in inviting tenders for the surface cleaning of glass-fibre reinforced materials in Royal Navy vessels.

Adam Ingram: Cleaning of Royal Navy Vessels and glass-fibre reinforced materials in Royal Navy vessels is undertaken as part of larger packages of work carried out during a vessel's regular maintenance and refit period, known as Upkeep Periods, undertaken by one of the three dockyards at Devonport, Portsmouth and Rosyth. The Ministry of Defence would not, therefore, have issued invitations to tender for cleaning direct to Farrow Systems.
	Upkeep Periods involve a whole range of work activity and to identify how much has been spent on the specific task of surface cleaning would involve disproportionate cost.
	Invitations to tender for Upkeep Periods follow public procurement procedures; any work subcontracted out would be subject to the procurement procedures laid down by the company undertaking the Upkeep Period.

US Bases

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  when the US formally asked permission from the UK Government to deploy B-52 bombers to British bases for anticipated operations in Iraq; if he will list the bases involved; and when the UK Government gave their consent;
	(2)  how many US B-52s have been authorised to deploy to RAF Fairford; for how long; with which types of ordnance US B-52s will be armed while deployed at RAF Fairford; and whether these will include the Joint Direct Attack Munition.

Geoff Hoon: I told the House on 3 March 2003, Official Report, column 566, that I had agreed a United States request to deploy fourteen B-52 bombers to RAF Fairford. No time scale has been placed upon their deployment there. The Government have also agreed to a request to base B-52s at Diego Garcia.
	I am withholding details of the discussions and timings of decisions on the deployment of USAF B-52 aircraft to British bases and their ordnance in accordance with Exemption 1 (Defence, security and international relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Personal Injury Claims

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to reduce the share of costs borne by public funds for claimants bringing personal injury cases against their employers.

Nick Brown: There are no plans at present.

Smoking

Ann Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans there are to review legislation on worker safety dealing with the effects of passive smoking.

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to meet employers to formulate a policy to ban smoking at the workplace.

Nick Brown: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no such plans.
	Employers have a duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 to protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees. This duty includes any risks arising from passive smoking. The Health and Safety Executive has published free guidance that gives advice to employers on introducing effective smoking policies in the workplace.

Accountancy Services

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total cost to his Department was for accountancy services in 2002.

Ian McCartney: The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Asbestos

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance the Health and Safety Executive gives on the handling of asbestos products; what tests have been carried out for the purposes of the guidance to establish the fibre levels released by such products; who carried out the tests; and on what dates.

Nick Brown: holding answer 25 February 2003
	The Health and Safety Executive has given guidance in six publications on the handling of asbestos products. They are the two Approved Codes of Practice, Work with asbestos insulation, asbestos coating and asbestos insulating board and Work with asbestos, which does not normally require a licence, and four guidance documents—Introduction to Asbestos Essentials, Asbestos Essentials Task Manual, Controlled Asbestos Stripping Techniques and Working with Asbestos Cement.
	The Health and Safety Laboratory studied the fibre levels released from the main types of asbestos-containing materials by various maintenance activities in 1998. They also reviewed existing literature from the United Kingdom and United States. The results of the study and review are in Annexe I of the Regulatory Impact Assessment on the amendments to the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations.
	A copy of the guidance and the regulatory impact assessment are available in the Library.

Asbestos

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what (a) instructions and (b) guidance is given to health and safety inspectors on the action they should take if they discover that asbestos removal contractors have acted improperly in determining that work should be undertaken to remove asbestos; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: holding answer 25 February 2003
	HSE inspectors promote HSE's policy, which is that asbestos in good condition should be left in place and managed and that asbestos in poor condition, or which is likely to be damaged or disturbed, should be repaired, sealed, enclosed or removed.
	If HSE are notified of "improper" removal, their prime concern is whether the contractor has put someone at risk as a result of working with asbestos and their investigation would concentrate on this aspect of the complaint. Although there are no specific instructions or guidance to inspectors about the action to take where it has been alleged that a contractor or other third party has acted fraudulently, HSE staff may give guidance to the complainant on the appropriate authorities (for example Trading Standards or the Police) to pursue the issue.

Benefit Fraud

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the level of fraud in (a) 2002–03, (b) 2003–04 and (c) 2004–05 in (i) income support, (ii) housing benefit, (iii) disability living allowance, (iv) the CSA, (v) national insurance, (vi) contractor fraud, (vii) jobseekers allowance and (viii) IC.

Malcolm Wicks: We do not make estimates of future levels of fraud. Currently we have only ongoing measurement of the level of fraud and error in Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance and Housing Benefit and we have set firm targets for the reduction of these in the future.

Employers' Liability Insurance

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when his Department will report on the investigation it has been making into the rise in employer liability insurance.

Nick Brown: holding answer 4 March 2003
	I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I gave on 12 December 2002, Official Report, columns 23–24WS, which said that the review will report to Ministers in the spring.

Employers' Liability Insurance

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the review of the Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance scheme will be published.

Nick Brown: holding answer 3 March 2003
	I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I gave on 12 December 2002, Official Report, columns 23–24W, which said that the review will report to Ministers in the spring.

Employers' Liability Insurance

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the progress of his review of employers' liability insurance.

Nick Brown: I refer my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement I gave on 12 December 2002, Official Report, columns 23–24W. Contributions to the review are now being considered and the review will report to Ministers in the spring.

Employers' Liability Insurance

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department's review of employers' liability insurance will assess whether the health and safety assessments carried out as part of the Department of Trade and Industry's Quality Mark scheme could be extended to other sectors.

Nick Brown: I refer my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement I gave on 12 December 2002, Official Report, columns 23–24W. Contributions to the review are now being considered and the review will report to Ministers in the spring.

Employment Statistics

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of people over the age of (a) 70, (b) 65, (c) 60, (d) 55 and (e) 50 years were in employment in (i) 2001–02, (ii) 1997–98, (iii) 1990–91 and (iv) 1980–81; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: We are vigorously promoting the benefits of age diversity and the recruitment, training and retention of older workers to employers through our Age Positive campaign. The campaign focuses on raising employers' awareness of the business case for an age diverse workforce and encourages them to use the Code of Practice on Age Diversity in Employment to inform their employment policies.
	Our recent Green Paper "Simplicity, security and choice: Working and saving for retirement" published on 17 December 2002 sets out our proposals for encouraging the adoption of flexible approaches to retirement, giving people the choice to stay in work longer.
	The information requested on employment rates is in the table.
	
		Estimated employment rates -- Percentage
		
			  50 and over 55 and over 60 and over 65 and over 70 and over 
		
		
			 1981 35.6 26.9 15.4 6.2 3.5 
			 1991 31.5 22.6 12.6 5.1 2.8 
			 1998 33.5 22.3 12.1 5.1 2.5 
			 2002 36.0 25.5 13.3 5.3 2.5 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The LFS is a sample survey and as such estimates are subject to sampling error.
	2. The LFS does not cover individuals in certain communal establishments, including residential or nursing care facilities.
	3. Estimates are not consistent with census 2001 interim adjustments.
	Source:
	Labour Force Survey (LFS), spring of each year

Household Poverty

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the proportion of (a) children and (b) pensioners living in households in the bottom two deciles of income distribution.

Malcolm Wicks: Information on the proportion of children and pensioners in the bottom fifth of the income distribution can be found in the publication 'Households Below Average Income 1994–95 to 2000–01', a copy of which is available in the Library.

Independent Medical Examiners

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what incentive system there is for the independent medical examiners contracted by SchlumbergerSema in respect of the personal capability assessment for incapacity benefit; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: Sessional doctors contracted by SchlumbergerSema to carry out medical assessments in respect of benefit claims are paid on a fee per assessment basis. Safeguards are in place to ensure that appropriate quality standards are maintained.
	Decisions on entitlement to benefit are made by Departmental decision makers, and there is no link between doctors' remuneration and the outcome of a claim.

Industrial Action

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many working days were lost owing to industrial action by staff in (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in 2002.

Ian McCartney: The information on the number of staff days lost owing to industrial action for the Department for Work and Pensions, is set out in the following table for the period 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2002.
	
		
			 Department Agency/Body Staff days lost 
		
		
			 Department for Work and Pensions Jobcentre Plus (3)97,058 
			 — The Pension Service 38 
			 — Corporate Centre Nil 
			 — Child Support Agency 14 
			 — Debt Management 2 
			 — The Appeals Service Nil 
			 Non Departmental Public Bodies Pensions Ombudsman, Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board, Independent Case Review Service for Social Fund, Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority, Pensions Provision Group, Office of the Social Security and Child Support Commissioners and Pensions Compensation Board Nil 
			 Total  97,112 
		
	
	(3) All but 814 days relates to a single dispute. Two disputes in total.

Pensions

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether pensioners will be able to have their pension paid into a (a) bank current account, (b) basic bank account and (c) post office card account weekly after April.

Malcolm Wicks: The change will be phased in over a two-year period. Pensioners will be contacted when it is their turn to change. If they are currently paid weekly they will automatically continue to be paid at this frequency after April.

Pensions

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action his Department has taken to increase consumer awareness that many insurance companies deduct commission from their pension savings as a fee for financial advice.

Ian McCartney: As part of the Government's Pension Education publicity campaign, we make it clear through the appropriate guides, for example, the guide 'Personal pensions—Your guide' that people might pay for financial advice through fees or commission which is deducted from their pension contributions. People are advised to ask for details of fees or commission. The Department publicises the guides, and they can also be accessed through The Pension Service website www.thepensionservice.gov.uk.
	The Government are committed to providing people with the information they need to make informed choices about saving for retirement. The proposals set out in the recently published Green Paper 'Simplicity, security and choice: Working and saving for retirement' (Cm 5677) are intended to reinforce that.

Permanent Staff

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many permanent staff worked for his Department and its agencies in each year from 1996–97 to 2003–04 (planned); what the reasons are underlying changes in staff numbers; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: Information on the number of permanent staff working for the Department for Work and Pensions is in the table.
	Figures for the Department for Work and Pensions are shown for 30 June 2001 when the Department was formed and 31 March 2002. There was a planned and managed increase in staffing levels in certain parts of the Department in 2001–02. Staffing was increased because of the modernisation agenda, in particular relating to the introduction of Child Support Reforms and the establishment of The Pension Service.
	The information for the years March 1996 to March 2001 show the figures for permanent staff in the Department of Social Security and the Employment Service.
	Profiles for staffing levels for 2003–04 are still being developed.
	
		
			  Department for Work and Pensions 
		
		
			 30 June 2001 126,069 
			 31 March 2002 133,553 
		
	
	
		
			  Department of Social Security Employment Service Total 
		
		
			 31 March 1996 94,932 41,156 136,088 
			 31 March 1997 98,917 34,174 133,091 
			 31 March 1998 94,886 33,528 128,414 
			 31 March 1999 97,056 35,430 132,486 
			 31 March 2000 91,173 35,299 126,472 
			 31 March 2001 89,774 36,930 126,704 
		
	
	Notes:
	Figures are consistent with Cabinet Office definitions other than the inclusion of staff on paid maternity leave.
	The figures are based on headcount (staff in post) and are point in time at the dates shown

Departmental Telephone Helplines

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many telephone helplines are sponsored by his Department; and which of these helplines are charged at (a) national rate, (b) premium rate and (c) local rate.

Ian McCartney: DWP sponsors 60 telephone helplines. Of these: (a) seven are charged at national rate, (b) none charged at premium rate (c) 46 charged at local rate and (d) a further seven numbers are free phone numbers.

Winter Fuel Payments

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will estimate the number of 2002–03 winter fuel payments that have been delayed because of departmental computer problems; and of that number, how many have yet to be issued;
	(2)  what corrective action he is taking to resolve the departmental computer problems that have delayed 2002–03 winter fuel payments; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: Over 11.1 million winter fuel payments have been made so far for this winter, and the vast majority of these were paid automatically before Christmas. There will of course be circumstances where, because of a variety of reasons, payment cannot be made without further inquiries. We seek to resolve these as soon as we can.
	However, some customers reported not receiving a payment for this winter. This was promptly investigated and it was found that, because of a system fault, some further 936 people should have been considered for an automatic payment. All of these people who were entitled to a payment for this year have now been paid. We are taking steps to ensure that this does not happen for the next winter.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Arts of Irish and Ulster-Scots Project

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any members of the Board of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland are on the Steering Group for the Council's research project on The Arts of Irish and Ulster-Scots.

Angela Smith: Dr. Maurna Crozier is the only member of the Board of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland who is also a member of the Steering Group.
	Dr. Crozier was nominated to the Steering Group by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

Blue Card Holders

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many blue card holders there are in each Northern Ireland constituency.

Des Browne: The information requested is not available in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Compulsory Purchase Orders

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what appeals procedures (a) exist and (b) are planned for residents of Northern Ireland whose property is subject to a compulsory purchase order; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Compensation is claimed by affected parties and generally settled in negotiation with the Valuation and Lands Agency acting on behalf of the acquiring authority. If a party is not content with the level of compensation offered, there is a right to refer the matter to the Lands Tribunal for Northern Ireland for a determination.
	There is no intention to alter this right of appeal to the Lands Tribunal.

Disability Discrimination Act

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what additional resources will be made available to the Equality Commission to enable it to fulfil its duties in respect of the changes in disability discrimination legislation planned over the next three years.

Jane Kennedy: The consultation process on proposals for legislation that will enhance the educational opportunities of children and young people in Northern Ireland with special educational needs and disabilities has recently been completed. Consideration is currently being given to the content of such legislation, in light of the outcome of the consultation. Where the legislation provides for additional responsibilities for the Equality Commission, consideration will be given to the resources necessary to enable the Commission to fulfil these responsibilities.

Disability Discrimination Act

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the outcome of the consultation on proposals for a special educational needs and disability Bill will be published; and when the legislation will be enacted.

Jane Kennedy: The consultation process on proposals for legislation that will enhance the educational opportunities of children and young people in Northern Ireland with special educational needs and disabilities has recently been completed. Consideration is currently being given to the content of such legislation, in the light of responses. The outcome of consultations will not be published, but it is expected that draft legislation will be issued before the summer and this will be the subject of further consultation. It is intended to introduce an Order in Council at Westminster or a Bill to the Northern Ireland Assembly towards the end of 2003, with a view to beginning implementation of the legislation in September 2004.

Hydro-pools

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which special schools in Northern Ireland have a hydro-pool; and if his Office will contribute funds towards the provision of a hydro-pool at each new special school to be built in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: Special schools in Northern Ireland, which currently have a hydrotherapy pool are:
	
		
			  
		
		
			 BELB Fleming Fulton, Belfast 
			 NEELB Beechgrove, Ballymena 
			  Sandelford, Coleraine 
			 SEELB Knockevin, Downpatrick  
			  Parkview, Lisburn 
			 SELB Lisanally, Armagh 
			 WELB Elmbrook, Enniskillen 
			  Foyleview, Londonderry 
		
	
	There are a number of criteria that must be met before the Department of Education can contribute funds towards the provision of a hydrotherapy pool. If the criteria are met then it is departmental policy to provide hydrotherapy pools where appropriate, subject to the recurrent costs being met by the Education and Library Board.

Independent Financial Advisers

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many claims were made by independent financial advisers in Northern Ireland on their professional indemnity insurance in each of the last five years; and how much money was paid out as a result of claims made by independent financial advisers in Northern Ireland on their professional indemnity insurance in each of the last five years.

Ian Pearson: The information requested by the hon. Lady is not collated by Government Departments in Northern Ireland, the Financial Services Authority, which regulates Independent Financial Advisers, HM Treasury or the Association of British Insurers and could not be obtained without entailing disproportionate costs.

Industrial Investment

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the effect the current downturn in the stock market is having on industrial investment in Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: Adverse global economic conditions have impacted unfavourably on stock markets, Foreign Direct Investment, trade and confidence worldwide and adversely affected industrial investment both nationally and in Northern Ireland. Recent surveys indicate a negative outlook for investment intentions in buildings and plant and machinery in the short term, with more companies planning to decrease rather than increase investment. Despite current uncertainties the Northern Ireland economy has been forecast to grow by between 2.5 per cent. and 3.5 per cent. in 2003 and manufacturing productivity has continued to rise.

Newtownards Library

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether a new library for Newtownards will be provided as part of the recently announced investment in local infrastructure.

Angela Smith: The Strategic Investment Programme includes a sum of 20 million for library projects and other information resources identified for potential procurement through public-private partnerships.
	The provision of a new library for Newtownards will be one of a number of projects which will be considered by the Department under this programme.

Nurses

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the Government is taking to encourage nurses to enter the neurosurgical branch of medicine; and what (a) immediate and (b) long term steps the Government are taking to overcome shortages of neurosurgical nurses.

Des Browne: The recruitment of staff is a matter for individual Health and Social Services Trusts taking into account factors such as service needs and available resources. The Royal Group of Hospitals Trust has confirmed that three newly qualified local nurses were recruited in October/November 2002 and they have just completed a three month supervised consolidation period. They are now established members of the neurosurgical nursing team in the neurosurgical ward. A further eight nurses were recruited from overseas in January 2003 and require a period of supervised practice before they can register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. The Trust anticipates that these nurses will join the nursing team on the neurosurgical ward in May/June 2003. This will facilitate the opening of further beds.
	The regional Neurosurgical Unit based in the Royal Group of Hospitals have introduced several initiatives to encourage nurses to work in neurosurgery. These include working closely with Queen's University Belfast to increase the number of student nurses who have the opportunity to experience neurosurgical nursing. In addition the University of Ulster and staff in the Neurosurgical Unit have developed specialist nursing programmes. Nurses are encouraged and supported to attend these courses where they will gain the underpinning knowledge and skills required to work in such a specialised area.

Organ Retention

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action has been taken against the pathologist at Altnagelvin Hospital who retained 59 organs without permission; and what investigation he has conducted into whether pecuniary gain was made from this organ retention.

Des Browne: The pathologist concerned was subject to the internal disciplinary procedures of Altnagelvin Health and Social Services Trust. The trust has confirmed that there was no pecuniary gain arising from this organ retention.

Parliamentary Questions

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will reply to questions (a) 90132, (b) 90131 and (c) 90130; and what the reason is for the delay in answering.

Jane Kennedy: The three questions to which my hon. Friend refers were issued to the House on 31 January 2003. Although they were not printed on that date in the Official Report, they appeared on 7 March at columns 1248W, 9247W and 924748W respectively.

Police Firearms Training

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the reply by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Jane Kennedy) on 25 February 2003, Official Report, columns 22526W, how many of those constables who received firearms training in May and July 2002 were (a) recruits and (b) members of the force with more than one year's service; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: All of those constables who received firearms training in May and July 2002 were recruits. None of those who were trained were members of the force with more than one year's service.

Post Mortems

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which hospitals in Northern Ireland continue the practice of hospital post mortems.

Des Browne: Hospital post mortems are currently carried out in the Royal Group of Hospitals, Ulster Hospital, Antrim Area Hospital and Altnagelvin Hospital. Normally hospital post mortems are also carried out in Craigavon Area Hospital, however the facilities are temporarily closed for upgrading.

Royal Victoria Hospital

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Royal Victoria Hospital Mortuary Log Book came into existence.

Des Browne: The Royal Victoria Hospital mortuary register started with effect from 4 February 1961.

Royal Victoria Hospital

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) coroners there were and (b) hospital post mortems took place at the Royal Victoria Hospital in each of the last three decades.

Des Browne: Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Teachers' Salaries

David Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools he estimates will receive (i) more and (ii) less funding under the new common funding formula.

Jane Kennedy: The intention is to introduce the common formula in the calculation of school budgets for 200405.
	It is not possible at this stage to assess the impact of the common formula with any degree of precision as the size of the Aggregated School Budget (ASB) for 200405 has not yet been determined and final decisions about the make-up of the formula have still to be made.

Teachers' Salaries

David Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with representatives of (a) primary and (b) secondary schools with regard to changes to the common funding formula, with particular reference to threshold funds.

Jane Kennedy: The main forum for discussion about the Common Funding Formula is the LMS Steering Group. The membership of the Group includes representatives of the managers of all grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland. The last meeting was held in September 2002, when the Department's proposals for the handling of threshold payments were discussed.
	In addition to discussion at this formal forum, the Department also engages with representatives of schools and teachers through meetings such as Standing Conferences, and by responding positively to requests for meetings with representative associations such as the Secondary Heads Association and the Primary Principals Association.

Tissue Act

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what changes are proposed to the Tissue Act 1961; and whether the Act is planned to be repealed.

Des Browne: The Department of Health, in conjunction with the Welsh Assembly Government, is currently working on a draft Human Organs and Tissue Bill to replace the Human Tissue Act 1961 in England and Wales. We are following developments closely to determine the best legislative solution for replacing the Human Tissue Act (NI) 1962.

CABINET OFFICE

Laptop Computers

Vincent Cable: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many laptop computers were used by (a) Ministers and special advisers and (b) officials in his Department in each year since 1995; how many were (i) lost and (ii) stolen; what their cost was; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The number of laptops provided centrally on behalf of the Department in 2000, 2001 and 2002 are 222, 540 and 629 respectively. However, some laptops have been procured by business units, and no information on the total numbers in use was collected centrally.
	The Cabinet Office Ministerial Group currently have a pool of three laptops for the use of Ministers, special advisers and officials within the group.
	There were two laptops reported stolen in 1998 and another one in 2001.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Criminal Records Checks

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  when he expects the Criminal Records Bureau to clear the backlog of criminal record checks for residential and nursing home care staff; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  according to the most recent figures available, what the average length of time has been for prospective residential and nursing home care staff to have their criminal records checked by the CRB;
	(3)  how many prospective staff awaiting employment in residential and nursing homes have yet to have their criminal records checked by the Criminal Records Bureau.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 5 March 2003
	I am unable to provide data to the hon. Member on specific waiting times for job types because there are no IT procedures at present to extract this data from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) database.
	This functionality is expected to be available during subsequent system releases. There are no figures available on the actual number of prospective employees in residential and nursing homes who are yet to apply for Disclosure.
	However, I can confirm that the backlog of all applications is falling steadily and now equates to less than two weeks' output. Backlog, defined as the number of applications outstanding across all sectors, over three weeks old, (the published CRB service standard), is 51,857. This compares with 115,483 in October 2002, and 62,687 in the last week in January 2003. I cannot state precisely when the backlog will be entirely eradicated. I can confirm that the average turnaround time for correctly completed applications is currently five weeks across all sectors. Applications are dealt with in date order and no professions are prioritised above others.

Family Visit Appeals

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the report of the interdepartmental review of family visit appeals.

Beverley Hughes: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 29 January 2003, Official Report, column 915W.
	We intend to publish the report as soon as possible.

Pre-sentence Reports

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what steps he intends to take to speed up the provision of pre-sentence reports by the probation service;
	(2)  what plans he has to speed up the provision of pre-sentence reports; and what the average time has been in the last 12 months for the provision of pre-sentence reports, broken down by magistrate court.

Hilary Benn: Chief Officers of Probation are responsible for the provision of probation services in their area, including the provision of pre-sentence reports to the courts. To assist performance in this area, the National Probation Directorate (NPD) has issued guidance to areas on effectively prioritising workloads and developing local protocols with courts. The NPD has also formulated a revised agreement with the Crown Prosecution Service and the Police for the provision of necessary advance information to the Probation Service to help with the timely production of pre-sentence reports for the courts. The NPD will continue to monitor performance of probation areas on the provision of pre-sentence reports and to consider ways to improve performance.
	Information is not available centrally on average times for probation officers to submit reports to individual magistrates' courts. National Standards for the Supervision of Offenders in the Community 2000 (revised 2002), which apply to the National Probation Service for England and Wales, require pre-sentence reports to be prepared within 15 working days of request by the court. The National Probation Service currently has a target to produce 90 per cent. of pre-sentence reports within 15 days. The latest figures, which relate to magistrates' courts, show that for all probation areas in 200102, 79 per cent. of reports were provided within the 15-day target.

Speeding

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to issue guidelines on consistency relating to speeding penalties.

Hilary Benn: The Magistrates' Association already produces sentencing guidelines for their members, which cover many of the main offences dealt with by magistrates, including speeding. The Criminal Justice Bill contains provision for the establishment of a Sentencing Guidelines Council. The Council will be responsible for setting guidelines for the full range of criminal offences and will be established as soon as possible after the enabling legislation is enacted. It is too early to say at this point how soon the Council will turn its attention to the offence of speeding, and road traffic offences generally.

Work Permits

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in the last year have been covered by applications for work permits under the Intra-Company Transfer Scheme; how many ICT applications have been granted; how many were examined in detail and checked; and how many were rejected and why.

Beverley Hughes: In 2002 Work Permits (UK) made decisions on 26,373 applications for work permits under the arrangements for intra-company transferees (ICTs). Of these 26,005 were approved and 368 were refused. 110 applications were refused on grounds of insufficient skills and experience, 21 on the grounds that no genuine vacancy existed, 78 on grounds of inadequate salary and 159 for other reasons.
	All applications for work permits for ICTs are checked against the criteria of the work permit arrangements, which require that the company making the application is a UK-based employer with a direct link by common ownership with the overseas company; that both the post and the worker meet the skills, qualifications and experience requirements of the work permit arrangements; that the worker is an established employee with essential company knowledge and at least six months experience of working for the company; and that the pay and conditions of employment are equal to those that would be offered to a resident worker doing similar work.
	Work Permits (UK) may, if it has doubts about an application, request further evidence that these requirements are met.

Work Permits

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-EU nationals are working in the UK under the Intra-Company Transfer Scheme; and how many of them are working in information technology.

Beverley Hughes: Since 1 January 1999, 88,820 work permits, including extensions to previously issued permits, have been approved under the Intra Company Transfer (ICT) category of the work permit arrangements, of which 33,951 have been issued in respect of workers in the IT industry. However, it is not possible to provide data as to the length of time for which these permits have been issued or the proportion of permit holders that have subsequently left the United Kingdom.

Young Offenders

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people (a) are being (b) have been held in young offender institutions in each of the last five years.

Hilary Benn: The data requested is given in the table.
	
		Young peopleinstitutions
		
			  June 1998 June 1999 June 2000 June 2001 June 2002 
		
		
			 Young offender institutions 5,614 5,170 5,251 5,340 5,518 
			 Juvenile institutions(4) 1,661 1,641 1,847 2,768 2,991 
			 Total young people in all Prison Service establishments(5) 11,550 11,293 11,231 11,054 11,610 
		
	
	(4) There were no female juvenile institutions prior to 2002.
	(5) Young people are those under the age of 21. Those under the age of 18 are classified as juveniles, and those aged 1820 are classified as young offenders.

Asylum Seekers

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many local drop-in centres for asylum seekers there were in each of the last five years; and who provided the service.

Beverley Hughes: The information is not available in the precise format requested. As part of the new support arrangements which came into force on 3 April 2000 the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) has provided grant funding to six voluntary sector organisations to provide a network of one stop services for asylum seekers. The organisations are the Refugee Council; Refugee Action; Refugee Arrivals Project; Migrant Helpline; Welsh Refugee Council and Scottish Refugee Council. Between them they run 28 one stop services across the United Kingdom. We have no central record of other drop in centres which are not funded by NASS.

Asylum Seekers

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are residing in Coventry; and how many have been placed in Coventry in the last three months.

Beverley Hughes: The information is not available in the form requested.
	Information on the location of asylum seekers in the UK is currently linked to the support the asylum seeker receives. Asylum seekers in the UK either receive support from the National Asylum Support Service (NASS), local authorities or the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), or are supporting themselves.
	As at the end of December 2002, NASS was supporting 1,595 asylum seekers (including dependants) in accommodation in Coventry. A further 190 asylum seekers (including dependants) were receiving subsistence only support from NASS and were staying in Coventry. 1
	From grant claims sent to the Home Office by local authorities, as at the end of December 2002, there were 35 single asylum seekers and 20 asylum seeker families being supported by local authorities in Coventry.
	The number of asylum seekers dispersed by NASS to Coventry over the past three months is not available.
	Statistics on the number of asylum seekers supported by NASS in each local authority are available on the Home Office's Immigration and Asylum Statistics website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html
	1 All figures have been rounded to the nearest five.

Aviation Security

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to the impact upon the Metropolitan Police Service of the potential use of hand-held surface to air missiles on aviation security.

David Blunkett: Action has been taken to secure the critical ground around airports and full consideration is being given to the impact on the Police Service of this threat.
	This is a sensitive issue, on which it is naturally important to avoid providing information which could be of assistance to terrorists.

Cannabis

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of (a) the amount of cannabis supplied and (b) the number of cannabis users in (i) the Ribble Valley and Fulwood, (ii) Lancashire, (iii) the North West of England, (iv) Wales and (v) England in each of the last six years.

Bob Ainsworth: No estimates are currently available on the amount of cannabis supplied for the areas identified.
	The British Crime Survey is able to provide estimates of the proportion of cannabis users in an area (aged between 16 and 59 years old). However, this information is available only at the regional or country level.
	
		Last year use of cannabis (16 to 59 year olds)
		
			  1996 1998 2000 200102 
		
		
			 North West 8.7 9.8 12.4 11.9 
			 England 9.7 10.4 10.6 10.7 
			 Wales 6.0 8.0 8.2 7.0 
			 England and Wales 9.5 10.3 10.5 10.6 
		
	
	There was a statistically significant increase in last year use of cannabis in the North West between the 1996 and 2000 British Crime Survey. Similarly, there was a significant increase in last year use of cannabis in England between the 1996 and 2000 British Crime Survey. From the 1996 British Crime Survey to date, there has been no significant change in the proportion of people in Wales having used cannabis in the last year.
	The 1998 British Crime Survey estimates that the proportion of 16 to 59 year olds using cannabis in the last year in the North West was statistically higher than in England (9.8 per cent. and 10.4 per cent. respectively). In all other years, there is no significant difference in the proportion of users.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  when he will reply to the letter to him dated 19 December 2002 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Amir Chaudhry;
	(2)  when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 19 December from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Amir Chaudhry.

David Blunkett: A reply regarding this case was sent to my right hon. Friend's office on 11 March 2003.

Criminal Justice Bill

Robert Marshall-Andrews: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a trial judge sitting alone under clauses 38 and 40 of the Criminal Justice Bill will consider evidence of allegations relating to jury tampering in the absence of the defendant.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 10 March 2003
	Evidence of allegations relating to jury tampering will be considered inter partes in accordance with standard practice. If, however, information relating to jury tampering is imparted to a judge on an ex parte public interest immunity application, it will be dealt with in accordance with current public interest immunity procedures.

Criminal Justice Bill

Robert Marshall-Andrews: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a successful application by the prosecution under clauses 38 and 40 of the Criminal Justice Bill will apply to all defendants tried on the same indictment.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 10 March 2003
	A successful application by the prosecution under clause 38, or a decision by a judge to discharge the jury and continue the trial sitting alone, or order a new trial without a jury under clause 40, would apply to all defendants tried on the same indictment. This would happen in all cases, subject to a successful application for severance of the indictment, which would be determined at the discretion of the judge.

Criminal Justice Bill

Robert Marshall-Andrews: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complex or lengthy trials, as defined by clause 37 of the Criminal Justice Bill, were tried by jury trial in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001; and how many were not serious fraud trials in each case.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 10 March 2003
	The Criminal Justice Bill makes provision, in clause 37, for the prosecution to apply for certain long or complex trials to be conducted without a jury. The circumstances under which a trial can be conducted without a jury under clause 37 are likely to apply to a range of offences. It is therefore not possible to supply the statistics requested. However, the Government do not expect there to be more than 15 to 20 such trials each year.

Criminal Justice Bill

Robert Marshall-Andrews: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a trial judge sitting alone under clause 37 of the Criminal Justice Bill will conduct applications relating to Public Interest Immunity in chambers in the absence of the defendant.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 10 March 2003
	Applications for non-jury trials under clause 37 made on the basis of information imparted to the judge on an ex parte public interest immunity application will be made in accordance with current Public Interest Immunity procedures.

Departmental Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of real spending by his Department in each year from 198081 to 200506 (planned) at 200001 prices; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: The available information is set out in the following table.
	Figures for spending before 198586 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	
		000
		
			 Financial year Expenditure(6) 
		
		
			 198586 4,958,000 
			 198687 5,285,000 
			 198788 5,565,849 
			 198889 5,534,148 
			 198990 5,869,193 
			 199091 6,466,092 
			 199192 6,946,235 
			 199293 7,036,640 
			 199394 7,036,242 
			 199495 7,225,539 
			 199596 7,280,656 
			 199697 7,117,909 
			 199798 7,221,273 
			 199899 8,434,889 
			 19992000 8,443,276 
			 200001 9,345,305 
			 200102 9,997,180 
			 200203 11,331,924 
			 200304 11,663,355 
			 200405 11,622,541 
			 200506 12,022,156 
		
	
	(6) At 200001 prices
	The major reasons for the increases in expenditure since 199798 include:
	Increased police numbers and increased funding in support services for the police, in particular the development of science and technology support.
	Funding new services including: Youth Justice Board, Crime Reduction Programme, Electronic Monitoring, Criminal Justice Information Technology, Victim Support
	and the Vulnerable and Intimidated Witnesses and the Home Office's contribution to the departmental cross cutting Criminal Justice System fund.
	Transfer of asylum support and associated responsibilities from other Government Departments and the increase in asylum numbers in recent years.
	Additional funding for improving conditions in prisons and development of programmes to reduce re-offending as well as the increase in the prison population.

Drug Offences

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women have been convicted of drug offences by courts covering the Greater London area in each of the last three years.

Bob Ainsworth: The number of men and women convicted of drug offences by courts in Greater London for the last available three years is shown in the table.
	
		Number of persons convicted of drug offences in the Greater London area, by gender, 19982000
		
			  1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			 Males 10,435 10,346 9,389 
			 Females 739 799 648 
		
	
	Source:
	RDS, Drug and Alcohol Research

Government Buildings (Security Review)

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the most recent review of the security at government buildings in London was undertaken; and what steps have been taken as a result of these reviews.

David Blunkett: The security of all government buildings is kept under constant review. For reasons of security it would not be appropriate to comment on the range of security measures that are in place.

Illegal Drugs

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the total cost of spending related to illegal drugs by government departments, broken down by (a) department and (b) drug; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: Information on resources is not available in the form requested. The planned pro-active expenditure, broken down between the four aims of the Drug Strategy, for this year and the next three years, is as follows:
	
		 million
		
			  200203 200304 200405 200506 
		
		
			 Protecting young people 102 149 155 163 
			 Reducing supply 376 380 380 380 
			 Safeguarding communities* 110 212 297 367 
			 Drug treatment** 438 503 512 573 
			 Total 1,026 1,244 1,344 1,483 
		
	
	* Includes expenditure strengthening delivery
	** Includes mainstream spending, prison treatment and pooled budgets

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Si�n Simon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reasons are for the closure of the Birmingham Public Enquiry Office of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate; and when it is expected to reopen.

Beverley Hughes: The Birmingham Public Enquiry Office is closed for essential refurbishment purposes. As soon as the completion date is known the re-opening date and details of the services and facilities, which the refurbished office will provide, will be published.

Justice and Home Affairs Council

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the outcome was of the Justice and Home Affairs Council held in Brussels on 27 to 28 February; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: My noble Friend (Lord Filkin) represented the United Kingdom at the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council in Brussels on 2728 February.
	The A points were approved as in document PTS A 8 (6756/03) (a copy has been placed in the Library) with the exception of point 3.
	The Council discussed the draft Council Decision on minimum standards for the qualification and status of third-country nationals and stateless persons as refugees or as persons who otherwise need international protection. Member states remained divided on whether refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection should receive equal treatment on family unity (Article 21), access to employment (Article 24), social welfare (Article 26) and health care (Article 27). The Presidency reminded member states of the undertaking made at the Seville European Council to adopt the text by June.
	The Council reached a general approach on the draft Council Directive on the right to family reunification subject to consideration of the European Parliament's opinion and one parliamentary scrutiny reserve. The UK has not opted in to the adoption of this measure.
	The Commission set out its ideas for strengthening of the procedures for passport control at the Schengen entry points, designed to tighten existing controls on the entry of third-country nationals at Schengen borders. Two member states presented a joint paper on the future use of biometrics in visas and residence permits. Lord Filkin stressed the importance of work in this area being carried out in line with existing international standards. He also invited the Commission to examine ways of using Eurodac data to assist in identifying those who overstayed in the Schengen area.
	The Commission gave a short presentation of the forthcoming feasibility study on improving sea-borders control, proposing the creation of three maritime zones covering the Western, Central and Eastern Mediterranean.
	This was followed by an orientation debate concerning the effectiveness of financial resources available at Community level for dealing with migration issues. Lord Filkin called for appropriate budget and burden sharing mechanisms and urged the Commission to produce its report on burden sharing before June. One member state called for an increase in the Community budget to support JHA-related work on burden sharing, whilst two others argued for re-structuring of the European Refugee Fund to allow money to be used for repatriation measures.
	During the open debate on fighting organised crime in the Western Balkans the Presidency underlined its commitment to action in the Balkans and the need for concrete follow-up to the London Conference on organised crime in South East Europe. The Presidency also reiterated the view that responsibility for change rested with Governments in the region. Lord Filkin focused on the need to move from rhetoric to action, to implement the commitments made at the London Conference and to develop appropriate mechanisms to monitor progress. He also underlined that countries in the region must co-operate fully with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Other member states highlighted the importance of reinforcing the rule of law, the creation of stable institutions and of increased police co-operation in response to the trafficking of drugs and people through the Balkans.
	The Council suspended negotiations with the US on the draft Agreements between the EU and USA on Judicial Co-operation in Criminal Matters and on Extradition which remained subject to a reservation by one member state. The Presidency undertook to prepare documents for member states' use for the purpose of consulting their national parliaments on the proposed Agreements.
	The Council discussed the outstanding issues on the draft Framework Decision on combating racism and xenophobia. There was agreement that the scope of offences in Article 1 should not include acts directed against a group of persons defined by reference to their belief. However a recital was proposed explaining that the use of the word religion could include persons defined by reference to their religious convictions or belief.
	Member states remained divided on the scope of criminal liability in Article 8. Four delegations favoured the inclusion of a provision obliging member states to derogate from dual criminality for mutual legal assistance in relation to offences of racism and xenophobia if they applied the stricter test for criminal liability. The UK and five other member states opposed. Lord Filkin reiterated the need to strike a balance between effective measures on racism and xenophobia and freedom of speech; he noted that improvements to judicial co-operation arrangements should be pursued through mutual recognition initiatives.
	The Council discussed a list of offences for which cross-border fines would be enforced in the absence of dual criminality in the draft Framework Decision on the application of the principle of mutual recognition to financial penalties. A majority of delegations, including the UK, were content to use the list adopted for the European Arrest Warrant, adding road traffic offences and six other types of conduct. However, one member state said that the European Arrest Warrant list was unsuitable for this instrument and three others had reservations on the inclusion of specific offences.
	The Council reached a general approach on the draft Framework Decision on attacks against information systems subject to consideration of the Recitals, the European Parliament's opinion and parliamentary scrutiny reserves from five member states.
	Under Any Other Business, the Commission gave a progress report on the implementation of the Afghan Return Programme. Voluntary returns were due to commence on 1 April 2003. Over lunch, the Commission reported on negotiations with Switzerland for its participation in Schengen arrangements. There was also a discussion of current counter-terrorism arrangements, including the role of Europol.

Lili Lin

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the proposed deportation of Lili Lin, Home Office reference number L1053356.

Beverley Hughes: Ms Lin was due to be removed from the United Kingdom on 6 March 2003, under administrative powers contained in the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. She was not being deported. Ms Lin has since submitted a further application to remain in the United Kingdom. She will not be removed while this application is under consideration.

Ministerial Travel

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times since 2001 he has taken flights within his departmental duties in the UK; how many of these were (a) charter flights, (b) first or club class and (c) by helicopter; and who accompanied him on each trip.

David Blunkett: I have taken eight flights within the UK while undertaking my departmental duties since 2001. With the exception of one standard, scheduled flight, all of these were RAF flights. All travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Library.
	In addition to my protection officers, I am normally accompanied by a private secretary and/or a special adviser.

Misuse of Drugs Act

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 11 February 2003, Official Report, column 717W, on the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, when the Government expect to publish a summary of the responses to the consultation on draft guidelines.

Bob Ainsworth: We have received a very large number of diverse comments in response to our consultation about the amended section 8. We are currently analysing the comments to the consultation exercise. A summary of these will be published once a decision on section 8 has been made.

Nurses

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 5 February 2003, Official Report, column 317W, on the overseas nurse advice line, when the decision to continue funding the helpline was made; what meetings were held; and if he will list the organisations which were consulted.

John Hutton: I have been asked to reply.
	The decision to continue funding the overseas nurses advice line was made in February 2003.
	Meetings are held on a quarterly basis by the International Nurses Working Group, set up to identify the problems faced by overseas nurses.
	Representatives from the Royal College of Nursing, UNISON, Nursing and Midwifery Council, Work Permits (UK), Independent Healthcare Association, Registered Nursing Home Association, Department of Trade and Industry, Philippines Embassy and Philippines Nursing UK attend the International Nurses Working Group meetings.

Overseas Trips

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the overseas trips made by himself and other members of his ministerial team in 2002; and what the (a) purpose and (b) cost was in each case.

David Blunkett: I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided by my hon. Friend the Member for Paisley, South (Mr. Alexander) on 22 January 2003, Official Report, column 334W.

Parliamentary Questions

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer by the hon. Member for Stretford and Urmston (Beverley Hughes), on the Angel Group, ref. 99702, if he will identify the nature of the contract to which the answer refers.

Beverley Hughes: The Angel Group has a contract with the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) to provide accommodation for asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute and have no way of providing for their own accommodation.

PFI Prisons

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were in (a) PFI and (b) non-PFI funded prisons at the latest date for which information is available.

Hilary Benn: On 5 March 2003, 6,683 prisoners were held in prisons managed by the private sector. This figure includes Doncaster and Wolds prisons, which are managed by the private sector but which were built under traditional procurement methods. On the same date, 65,732 prisoners were held in prisons managed by the public sector, making a total prison population of 72,415.

Police Dogs/Horses

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) dogs and (b) horses are employed by each police force, broken down by species.

John Denham: The Association of Chief Police Officers has provided the following information:
	
		Number of police dogs in each force area by breed
		
			 Constabularies German Shepherd Labrador Border Collie Retriever German Pointer Springer Spaniel Cocker Spaniel 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 45 14  
			 Bedfordshire 15 38 1 
			 Cambridgeshire 18 8  
			 Cheshire 23 111 2 
			 City of London 6 5  1  13 2 
			 Cleveland 18 210  
			 Cumbria 18 43 1 
			 Derbyshire 21 18  
			 Devon and Cornwall 42 3 2  1 14  
			 Dorset 18 1   1 5 1 
			 Durham 25 49  
			 Dyfed Powys 16 4 1 2 1 5  
			 Essex 42 13  
			 Gloucestershire 16 2 1 1  4 1 
			 Greater Manchester 135 11 2   18  
			 Gwent 15 47  
			 Hampshire 32 4 1   9 1 
			 Hertfordshire 23 1   1 7  
			 Humberside 27 65  
			 Isle of Man 3 11  
			 Kent 35 5   1 12 7 
			 Lancashire 41 10  1 2 21  
			 Leicestershire 21 5  2  5  
			 Lincolnshire 20 9  
			 Merseyside 40 319 1 
			 Metropolitan 193 1227 7 
			 Norfolk 18 53  
			 Northamptonshire 11 5 1   3  
			 Northumbria 62 319  
			 North Wales 10 4  
			 North Yorkshire 20 4 1   9  
			 Nottinghamshire 24  1   12  
			 South Wales 44 5   1 13  
			 South Yorkshire 51 47 1   9  
			 Staffordshire 20 6  
			 Suffolk 14 7 1 
			 Surrey 28 6 1   11  
			 Sussex 33 7 1   21  
			 Thames Valley 33  2   16 1 
			 Warwickshire 12 24  
			 West Mercia 42 3 1   13  
			 West Midlands 69 324  
			 West Yorkshire 51  5   24 1 
			 Wiltshire 12 8  
		
	
	
		
			 Constabularies Cross Breeds Weimaraner Malinois Rottweiler Bloodhound Working Sheepdog Totals 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset  1 60 
			 Bedfordshire1   28 
			 Cambridgeshire   26 
			 Cheshire   37 
			 City of London   27 
			 Cleveland   30 
			 Cumbria 2  28 
			 Derbyshire 1  31 
			 Devon and Cornwall 1  63 
			 Dorset1   27 
			 Durham   38 
			 Dyfed Powys   1  1  31 
			 Essex   55 
			 Gloucestershire   25 
			 Greater Manchester   1167 
			 Gwent   26 
			 Hampshire   148 
			 Hertfordshire  1 33 
			 Humberside   38 
			 Isle of Man   5 
			 Kent 1  256 
			 Lancashire2   77 
			 Leicestershire   33 
			 Lincolnshire1   30 
			 Merseyside   63 
			 Metropolitan   239 
			 Norfolk 1  27 
			 Northamptonshire1   21 
			 Northumbria   84 
			 North Wales   14 
			 North Yorkshire   34 
			 Nottinghamshire   37 
			 South Wales   63 
			 South Yorkshire   108 
			 Staffordshire   26 
			 Suffolk   22 
			 Surrey1   47 
			 Sussex1   63 
			 Thames Valley   52 
			 Warwickshire   18 
			 West Mercia   160 
			 West Midlands 2   4   102 
			 West Yorkshire   182 
			 Wiltshire 1  21 
		
	
	
		Number of police horses by force area
		
			 Constabularies Horses 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 10 
			 City of London 6 
			 Cleveland 9 
			 Greater Manchester 41 
			 Humberside 8 
			 Lancashire 20 
			 Merseyside 24 
			 Metropolitan 120 
			 Northumbria 9 
			 Nottinghamshire 10 
			 South Wales 8 
			 South Yorkshire 16 
			 Thames Valley 8 
			 West Yorkshire 22

Prisoner Transfers

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role the Audit Commission plays in (a) auditing custody suites and (b) monitoring the cost of transfer of prisoners between custody cells and Court.

Hilary Benn: The task of transferring prisoners between custody cells and the courts is carried out by private contractors on behalf of the Home Office, which pays the costs. The Audit Commission would only become involved in monitoring these costs and in the auditing of custody suites if specific concerns were discovered by the Commission's auditors during the annual risk-based planning process for each individual police authority.

Prisons

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the total operational capacity of prisons in England and Wales by 2006, based on current trends;
	(2)  what extra capacity the new prisons at Ashford and Peterborough will provide the Prison Service by 2006; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will make a statement on the Prison Service's Operation Container initiative.

Hilary Benn: Operation Container was the name given to the arrangements by which Prison Service prisoners were held in police cells in the early 1990s. Operation Container is no longer in force and the Prison Service now operates the holding of Prison Service prisoners in police cells under the name Operation Safeguard. Operation Safeguard was last activated between 12 July and 20 December 2002 and at present no Prison Service prisoners are held in police cells.
	The two new prisons at Ashford and Peterborough will together provide 1,290 places by 200405. It is planned that the prison at Ashford will accommodate 450 females and the prison at Peterborough is planned to have 840 places in total: of these, 480 will be for males and 360 for females.
	Current projections for the Prison Service anticipate a total useable operational capacity of 77,500 by 2006. This is an average figure, which is used for the purpose of planning the Prison Service estate. The Prison Service continues to investigate options for providing further increases in capacity over the coming years, as part of the Government's prison modernisation strategy. This is based on a combination of expanding capacity in existing prisons that we want to keep in the long term, and a programme to build new concept large multi-functional prisons.
	The work of the Correctional Services Review is looking at what measures can be taken in the short term to reduce the prison population. We are committed to managing any rise in prison population through the provision of additional capacity and reform to the Criminal Justice system.

Prisons

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the performance of Premier Custodial Group Limited in its provision of private prisons.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 10 March 2003
	The management of Ashfield young offender institution was handed back from the Prison Service to Premier Prison Services Ltd. on 14 October 2002. Since then the performance of the establishment has been unsatisfactory and a rectification notice has been issued requiring Premier to rectify failures to comply with contractual requirements. Premier's programme of rectification is currently being audited.
	The performance of Premier at its other three establishments Doncaster prison and young offender institution, Dovegate and Lowdham Grange prisons has been generally satisfactory.

Prisons

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the (a) quality and (b) standards of performance of (i) private sector and (ii) public sector prisons.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 10 March 2003
	Private sector prisons are subject to the same assessments of their performance as that of public sector. These assessments include the following: inspections by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons; annual reports by the Independent Monitoring Boards (formerly Board of Visitors) of each prison; and regular audits made by the Prison Service on each prison in terms of compliance with Prison Service performance Targets and Standards.
	The Prison Service is looking to further develop its existing performance management framework as part of a performance improvement programme that will build on the success of Performance Testing. Consultations are underway and an announcement will be made shortly.

Probation Services

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of including property portfolios within the annual budget formula for probation services.

Hilary Benn: Property has, in fact, been removed from the annual resource allocation formula, and new standard charging arrangements introduced to ensure that increased investment creates a better and more equitable standard of probation property across England and Wales.

Recidivism

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the trend in recidivism over the last decade.

Hilary Benn: Two-year 'un-adjusted' reconviction rates for prisoners discharged from custody are available for 1987 to 1998. These were 57 per cent. in 1987, 55 per cent. in 1988, 53 per cent. in 1989, 52 per cent. in 1990, 53 per cent. in 1991, 51 per cent. in 1992, 53 per cent. in 1993, 56 per cent. in 1994, 58 per cent. in 1995, 57 per cent. in 1996, 58 per cent. in 1997 and 59 per cent. in 1998. These rates are published in 'Prison StatisticsEngland and Wales 2001'.
	The change in rates over the years will mainly be explained by changes in the underlying demographic and criminological characteristics of the offenders sentenced to custody over this period of time. These include gender, age when sentenced, number of previous convictions, type of offence and other factors. Due to this and other reasons custodial and community penalty reconviction rates should not be directly compared.
	Reconviction rates for offenders discharged from custody have also been published according to the requirements of the Governments Public Service Agreement (PSA) 10 target. These are adjusted to take out convictions for offences committed prior to discharge, giving a reconviction rate of 55.3 per cent. for the first quarter of 1999. The equivalent figures for the first quarter of 1997 and 1998 are 56.8 per cent. and 55.7 per cent. respectively.
	Neither set of rates indicates trends in rates over time, as they make no allowance for changes in the characteristics and criminal histories of offenders given custodial sentences. To do this a predicted rate is used. Comparisons between the actual and predicted reconviction rates for 1999 show that the actual rate was 3.3 percentage points lower than predicted relative to the 1997 baseline.
	Reconviction rates for more recent periods are not yet available.

Terrorism

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department of those arrested for alleged terrorist offences since 11 September 2001, how many (a) have been charged with offences under anti-terrorism legislation, (b) were not charged but were handed over to immigration officials for alleged breach of rules; and how many of those not charged but handed over to immigration officials (i) have been deported and (ii) await deportation (A) in custody and (B) at liberty; how many have been detained without charge under anti-terrorism legislation; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: 335 people have been arrested in total since 11 September 2001 of whom 53 have been charged and 42 have been released into Immigration Service custody. Fifteen people have been detained under the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001 of whom two have left the country. Figures on deportation are published quarterly.

Wakefield Prison

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners at Wakefield Prison have had their status reduced from enhanced to standard in the last 12 months; and how many prisoners are in each category.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 6 March 2003
	There have been 116 prisoners reduced from enhanced to standard level of the Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP) scheme at Wakefield prison in the past 12 months. The number of prisoners on each level is currently: Basic 11; Standard 357; and Enhanced 202.
	There have been significantly higher numbers of prisoners downgraded from Enhanced to Standard IEP level across the prison estate this year. This is because of changes to the way in which incentive level reviews are now carried out. Under the revised procedures, prisoners who refuse to comply with their sentence plan and therefore to attend offending behaviour programmes, do not now progress as quickly towards enhanced status. In the case of Wakefield, prisoners not complying with their sentence would not gain as many points, under the local arrangements, towards progression to enhanced status. This has also resulted in larger numbers of this type of prisoner been downgraded from enhanced to standard.

Work Permits

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many in-country work permits were approved in 2002; and what proportion were granted to those previously holding a work permit.

Beverley Hughes: There were 40,888 in-country work permits issued in 2002, and a further 24,506 authorised extensions to previously issued work permits. Applications can be made in respect of overseas workers already in the UK where there has been a change of employment or a technical change of work. The Immigration Rules also make provision for students who have obtained a degree whilst studying in the UK, and postgraduate doctors, nurses and dentists who have remained in the UK after becoming qualified, to switch to work permit status.
	The right hon. Member may have been misled into thinking that work permits can be issued to asylum seekers. Asylum seekers cannot apply for work permits, and are not in the categories of those allowed to switch into work permit status.

PRIME MINISTER

Forward Strategy Unit

Norman Lamb: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the activities of Lord Birt as a member of the Forward Strategy Unit over the last 12 months; on how many occasions Lord Birt has travelled by public transport in the last 12 months as part of his work with the Forward Strategy Unit; and how much Lord Birt has claimed in expenses as a result of his appointment to the Forward Strategy Unit.

Tony Blair: Lord Birt is my unpaid strategy adviser. He is not a member of the Strategy Unit, but works alongside the Strategy Unit on a range of issues. The nature of Lord Birt's work is to provide private internal advice to me and other Cabinet Ministers. This advice is not disclosed under Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
	Lord Birt works primarily in London and my understanding is that he regularly uses public transport. He has not claimed any expenses in the last 12 months.

Iraq

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister what steps the Government has taken (a) to minimise environmental damage and (b) to restore environmental damage caused in the event of a war in Iraq.

Tony Blair: No decision to launch military action against Iraq has been taken.

Johnson Press

John Whittingdale: To ask the Prime Minister on 
	(1)  what occasions members of his Office have (a) met and (b) spoken to (i) Mr. Roger Parry, Chairman and (ii) Mr. Tim Bowdler, Chief Executive of Johnston Press, in connection with the Hartlepool Mail in the last 12 months;
	(2)  on what occasions he has (a) met and (b) spoken to (i) Mr. Roger Parry, Chairman and (ii) Mr. Tim Bowdler, Chief Executive of Johnston Press in the last 12 months.

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Prime Minister when he last had discussions with Mr. Roger Parry of Johnson Press.

Tony Blair: Ministers and Government officials have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals. As with previous Administrations it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings, under exemptions 2 and 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Kyoto Protocol

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister when he last discussed the Kyoto Protocol with President Bush; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I have regular discussions with President Bush on a wide range of international issues including energy policy and climate change. The Government welcomes the US's recognition that climate change is a serious problem and the fact that it is taking domestic action.
	The UK is fully committed to the Kyoto Protocol, with its binding targets and timetables, which is designed to deliver absolute global emissions reductions. The UK will work with other governments to develop the technologies needed to reduce global emissions further in the longer term.

Lords-Lieutenant

Harry Cohen: To ask the Prime Minister what requirements there are for Lord Lieutenants to declare political affiliation.

Tony Blair: Lord Lieutenants are aware that their role is essentially non-political. As Her Majesty's representatives Lord Lieutenants should stand apart from politics in their respective counties or areas and should not, therefore, take part in local political activities or hold office in local political party organisations. Lord Lieutenants are also advised that participation in national political activity may carry some potential risk for their impartiality at county or area level.

Security Council (Veto)

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his policy relating to judging a veto in the UN Security Council as unreasonable.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the right hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr. Duncan Smith) at Prime Minister's questions on 26 February 2003, Official Report, columns 25051.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Departmental Press Officers

Simon Hughes: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many (a) full and (b) part time press officers were employed by her Department in April 1997; and how many are employed now.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 24 February 2003, Official Report, column 20W. In relation to (a) the Lord Chancellor's Department employed three full-time press officers in 1997 and now employs 10.
	With regard to (b), the Lord Chancellor's Department has not employed any part time press officers.

Legal Aid

David Cameron: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much was spent in legal aid on funding asylum (a) hearings, (b) appeals and (c) judicial reviews in the last two years; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Legal Service Commission's computer systems do not record expenditure according to the stage a case has reached; nor is it possible to identify asylum expenditure separately from the more general category of immigration matters. However, for the last two completed financial years, expenditure on immigration and asylum was 81 million in 200001 and 130 million in 200102, We estimate that at least 90 per cent. of that expenditure related to asylum matters.

Legal Services (Consumer Choice)

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what progress has been made in increasing consumer choice in legal services.

Rosie Winterton: In April 1998, the Institute of Legal Executives joined the Bar Council and the Law Society as an authorised body in its own right and as a fully fledged part of the legal profession. In November 1999, the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents was similarly designated. These developments represent a small, but important, increase in the number of people qualified to appear before the courts, widening the availability of legal services to the public. Reform of the law relating to conditional fees agreements has also allowed innovative products to be developed, which have increased the funding options available to individuals with winnable cases.
	The Government remain keen to remove restrictive practices not in the public interest. The removal of such practices could provide an incentive for lawyers, or other providers, to introduce innovative, high quality and affordable services to the public. In most cases, open and competitive markets are the best way to ensure that consumers get the best possible service, while continuing to protect consumers and ensuring probity. The Government have consulted on matters that fall to it following on from the Office of Fair Trading's report on competition in professions. We are currently considering the responses to that consultation.

Magistrates Courts

James Paice: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans the Department has to open new Magistrates courts in Cambridgeshire.

Yvette Cooper: There are no plans to open any new Magistrates courts in Cambridgeshire. Cambridgeshire Magistrates Courts Committee (MCC) will continue to operate from the five Magistrates courts based at Peterborough, Cambridge, Wisbech, Huntingdon and Ely. The MCC in providing an effective and efficient service to all court users has responsibility to explore opportunities for the provision of replacement buildings if necessary.

Magistrates Courts

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many (a) adults and (b) juveniles were tried at Chorley Magistrates Court in each of the last three years.

Yvette Cooper: The total number of adult and youth cases dealt with by Lancashire MCC in Chorley South Ribble and Ormskirk Magistrates Courts as whole is as follows:
	
		
			 Adult 200001 200102 (7)200203 
		
		
			 Indictable 2,394 1,942 1,848 
			 Breaches 453 295 392 
			 Summary Non Motoring 5,289 5,027 3,217 
			 Motoring 4,316 4,261 5,278 
			 Youth 825 719 685 
		
	
	(7) Projected
	The MCC has not allocated separation figures for Chorley.

Magistrates Courts

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what criteria are used when determining the (a) closure and (b) retention of magistrates courts; and what the process and timescale is.

Yvette Cooper: Under section 56(1) of Justice of the Peace Act 1997 (JPA), decisions to close or retain magistrates courts are made by locally based Magistrates Courts Committees (MCCs) after consultation with the local paying authority. The paying authority concerned is notified in writing of any determination to close and has the right of appeal to the Lord Chancellor within one month of the written notification, section 56(3) JPA 1997. Opportunities for representation are given to all concerned parties and the appeal is concluded when the Lord Chancellor is satisfied that this has happened and then makes his decision. His decision is final and binding on both parties. There is no pre-determined timescale.

Magistrates Courts

David Drew: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress is being made with those Magistrates courts that are working with computer network technologies.

Yvette Cooper: Under the Libra Project, a common national infrastructure and Office Automation has now been delivered to over 90 per cent. of Magistrates courts staff. There are four MCCs remaining in the rollout programme and these will be completed by spring 2003. A total of 9,116 workstations have been deployed, giving access to 10,701 users.

Criminal Damages

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in how many cases during the last five years a criminal has succeeded in obtaining damages in court against his victim.

Yvette Cooper: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost to the Department.

Lay Magistrates

Ben Chapman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Lord Chancellor will announce the national strategy for the recruitment of lay magistrates.

Yvette Cooper: My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor has recently approved the final draft of the National Strategy for the Recruitment of Lay Magistrates and hopes to announce its launch as soon as the financial provisions are in place, which is expected to be next month (April 2003).
	The key aims of the strategy are to recruit and retain magistrates from a diverse spectrum of the population, to raise the profile of the magistracy and dispel misconceptions about its make up and entry requirements.

Libra System

David Drew: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress is being made with the installation of the Libra system; and what recent discussions he has had with Fujitsu.

Yvette Cooper: The Libra infrastructure and office automation has now been delivered to over 90 per cent. of magistrates courts staff. Development of the Libra national case-management software application is under way. Deployment of the application is expected to begin in 2004 and will be completed in 2005.
	A revised contract with Fujitsu Services was signed on 23 July 2002. Under this contract Fujitsu Services will provide the infrastructure and office automation services to MCCs until 31 March 2007. Discussions on a supplier/client basis take place continually within the contract.

Mental Capacity Bill

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when she intends to produce a draft Mental Capacity Bill; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: I am pleased to say that we have already begun preparing a draft Mental Incapacity Bill for publication when all the necessary work is complete. This will be based upon our Policy Statement 'Making Decisions'. I regard this as an extremely positive and important step forward in the area of mental incapacity.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Dreamland Scenic Railway

Roger Gale: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if his Department regards the Dreamland scenic railway, Margate, as a fixed object for the purposes of listed building content.

Tony McNulty: It is for the local planning authority in the first instance to determine whether works require listed building consent in any particular case. Any definitive interpretation of the statutes would be for the Courts.

Building Development (Flood Risk)

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make it a requirement that when local authorities draw up section 106 agreements with developers (a) consideration is given to any increased flooding risks caused by the developments and (b) developers should be obliged to meet the financial burdens caused by this flooding risk.

Tony McNulty: Planning policy guidance note (PPG) 25 Development and flood risk already advises that Section 106 agreements, entered into before permission is granted, may be an appropriate means of ensuring that the provision and future maintenance of any necessary flood defence or flood alleviation works required because of a development are fully funded by the developer as part of the development. It also advises that similar arrangements may be needed in respect of the maintenance and renewal of culverts or of sustainable drainage systems.
	The primary responsibility for dealing with flooding issues lies with the landowner under common law. In particular, individual property owners are responsible for managing the drainage of their land to prevent nuisance to neighbouring property. Where a person's actions, such as acts of development of land, cause flooding that would not have occurred otherwise then that person may be liable in negligence for damages caused. However, proving the causal link may not be straightforward and that is a matter for the courts to determine. It is, therefore, very much in the interests of developers to ensure that the sites they build on are not vulnerable to flooding and do not add to flood risk at other properties.

Electoral Register

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the final day is for additions to the electoral register with respect to the 1 May 2003 election.

Christopher Leslie: The final day for electors to apply to be added to the electoral register for the local council elections on 1 May 2003 election is 11 March 2003, except in a small number of cases where electoral pilot schemes, including alterations to the final registration date, are proposed. Arrangements in these cases are being published locally.

Green Belt (Kent)

Howard Stoate: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures he is taking to maintain greenbelt land in Kent Thames-side.

Tony McNulty: Sustainable Communities: Building for the Future indicates that the Government's target is to maintain or increase the current area of land designated as Green Belt in local plans in each region. It also states the Government's intention to use Green Belt and other countryside protection tools to maintain the openness of the countryside around areas of growth, such as in the Thames Gateway.

Homelessness

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his Department's latest estimate is of the number of homeless people without regular shelter for each night; and how many there were in each of the last five years for each London borough; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Roche: Specific information on the number of homeless people without regular shelter is not held centrally. However, in terms of people sleeping rough, as of June 2002, local authority statistics show that nationally, around 596 people are sleeping rough on any one night. This represents a reduction of 68 per cent. since 1998 when it was estimated that in England, 1,850 people were sleeping rough on any one night.
	The table sets out data on rough sleeping for all London boroughs over the last five years.
	
		Table 1
		
			  1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Barnet 2 2 2 0 0 
			 Bexley 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Brent 29 19 16 7 4 
			 Bromley 1 1 1 0 0 
			 Camden 59 66 54 38 28 
			 City of London 41 36 40 30 41 
			 Croydon 25 25 25 7 6 
			 Ealing 24 18 14 7 4 
			 Enfield  14 7 0 0 
			 Greenwich 11 21 5 0 3 
			 Hackney 6 7 8 0 11 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 11 16 13 3 4 
			 Haringey 8 6 2 2 8 
			 Harrow 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Havering  5 0 0 0 
			 Hillingdon  0 8 0 0 
			 Hounslow 20  11 8 3 
			 Islington 13 14 12 0 2 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 23 28 14 15 6 
			 Kingston upon Thames 0 3 3 3 0 
			 Lambeth 20 46 47 23 12 
			 Lewisham  2 6 3 1 
			 Merton  0 0 1 0 
			 Newham 11 0 0 8 0 
			 Redbridge  0 5 5 5 
			 Richmond upon Thames 12 16 10 5 6 
			 Southwark 31 26 7 13 2 
			 Sutton  0 0 0 0 
			 Tower Hamlets 31 10 6 9 2 
			 Waltham Forest 6 20 3 1 4 
			 Wandsworth  0 0 0 0 
			 Westminster 237 234 227 169 169 
			 Total 621 635 5476 357 321 
		
	
	This data is taken from returns of the Housing Investment Programme (HIP) that are submitted annually in June by all local authorities. The figures represent the results of street counts or where counts have not taken place an estimation of the extent of the rough sleeping problem has been recorded.
	The following table represents the number of households accommodated under the homelessness legislation in temporary accommodation, including homeless at home, in London over the last five years at the end of September each year.
	
		Table 2: Households in temporary accommodation at 30 September P1E data as reported by London boroughs
		
			1998  1999  2000 
			 LA code LA name Total Of which: Homeless at home Total Of which: Homeless at home Total Of which: Homeless at home 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Z5060 Barking and Dagenham 235 0 291 0 284 0 
			 N5090 Barnet 1,176 292 1,663 513 n/r n/r 
			 D5120 Bexley 153 0 180 0 218 0 
			 T5150 Brent 3,342 349 3,447 154 3,634 139 
			 G5180 Bromley n/r n/r 535 168 571 190 
			 X5210 Camden 2,000 236 2,225 304 2,014 286 
			 K5030 City of London 59 0 72 0 55 1 
			 L5240 Croydon 1,492 0 2,246 0 2,799 0 
			 A5270 Baling 863 0 1,161 0 1,939 341 
			 Q5300 Enfield n/r n/r 1,949 0 2,311 0 
			 E5330 Greenwich 844 590 914 670 857 560 
			 U5360 Hackney n/r n/r 1,484 60 n/r n/r 
			 H5390 Hammersmith and Fulham 757 7 995 42 1,237 103 
			 Y5420 Haringey 3,131 742 3,549 640 4,353 831 
			 M5450 Harrow 1,087 88 1,507 263 1,820 314 
			 B5480 Havering n/r n/r n/r n/r n/r n/r 
			 R5510 Hillingdon 1,464 165 1,742 205 1,677 85 
			 F5540 Hounslow 977 501 948 318 1,012 304 
			 V5570 Islington 797 0 1,084 0 1,324 0 
			 K5600 Kensington and Chelsea n/r n/r 821 0 802 0 
			 Z5630 Kingston upon Thames n/r n/r 584 22 544 31 
			 N5660 Lambeth 1,167 31 1,428 158 1,679 206 
			 C5690 Lewisham 834 296 1,076 467 1,428 413 
			 T5720 Merton 70 0 96 3 87 4 
			 G5750 Newham 1,957 323 2,123 322 2,836 424 
			 W5780 Redbridge 597 0 723 0 1,184 0 
			 L5810 Richmond upon Thames 535 145 626 106 557 100 
			 A5840 Southwark 964 517 1,220 629 1,348 715 
			 P5870 Sutton 331 0 375 n/r 586 60 
			 E5900 Tower Hamlets 1,012 250 1,356 227 1,598 211 
			 U5930 Waltham Forest 816 162 950 187 892 106 
			 H5960 Wandsworth n/r n/r 466 10 912 0 
			 X5990 Westminster 2,191 377 2,505 346 2,457 245 
		
	
	
		
			2001  2002 
			 LA code LA name Total Of which: Homeless at home Total Of which: Homeless at home 
		
		
			 Z5060 Barking and Dagenham 398 1 667 0 
			 N5090 Barnet n/r n/r 2,502 392 
			 D5120 Bexley 234 55 246 38 
			 T5150 Brent 3,719 153 3,647 137 
			 G5180 Bromley 626 258 742 295 
			 X5210 Camden 1,945 214 2,140 250 
			 K5030 City of London 45 0 37 0 
			 L5240 Croydon 2,967 0 3,259 0 
			 A5270 Baling 2,275 353 2,216 327 
			 Q5300 Enfield 2,323 0 2,593 0 
			 E5330 Greenwich 807 531 1,070 723 
			 U5360 Hackney 1,895 142 2,321 160 
			 H5390 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,454 132 1,756 144 
			 Y5420 Haringey 4,587 751 n/r n/r 
			 M5450 Harrow 1,638 77 1,647 45 
			 B5480 Havering n/r N/r 290 0 
			 R5510 Hillingdon 1,942 125 2,091 165 
			 F5540 Hounslow 1,124 305 1,351 299 
			 V5570 Islington 1,516 0 1,301 0 
			 K5600 Kensington and Chelsea 1,120 0 971 2 
			 Z5630 Kingston upon Thames 646 20 732 15 
			 N5660 Lambeth 1,834 358 2,303 417 
			 C5690 Lewisham 1,334 355 1,814 625 
			 T5720 Merton 188 4 174 5 
			 G5750 Newham 3,714 560 4,449 991 
			 W5780 Redbridge 1,376 0 1,510 0 
			 L5810 Richmond upon Thames n/r N/r 526 25 
			 A5840 Southwark 907 212 1,261 492 
			 P5870 Sutton 519 94 527 99 
			 E5900 Tower Hamlets 1,866 32 2,366 14 
			 U5930 Waltham Forest 759 126 1,044 100 
			 H5960 Wandsworth 1,043 0 1,355 35 
			 X5990 Westminster 2,720 325 3,042 388 
		
	
	n/rRefers to P1E data not received from local authority

Homelessness

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the extra support recently given to homeless families.

Barbara Roche: The March 2002 report, More than a roof, set out the Government's approach to tackling and preventing homelessness. Specific measures included investment of 125 million in 200203 to support local authorities and the voluntary sector to support new approaches to preventing homelessness. Further support of 70 million is available in 200304. These resources will help to support the Government's commitment that by March 2004 no homeless family with children will have to live in bed and breakfast accommodation, except in an emergency, but for no longer than six weeks.
	Other measures include:
	the Homelessness Act 2002, which requires local authorities to undertake a review and put a strategy in place by July 2003 to ensure that support and accommodation is available within their districts for homeless people, and those at risk of homelessness;
	we are investing 6 million in 200203 and 11 million in 200304 on a special initiative to make 500 homes available for homeless families with children living in Bed  Breakfast (BB) hotels in London;
	new advice to housing authorities on arrangements to ensure that all babies and children placed in temporary accommodation receive their health and developmental tests;
	proposals to consult on legislation and statutory guidance to prohibit the use of bed and breakfast accommodation for families with children, to raise standards in all forms of temporary accommodation, ensure that homeless households in temporary accommodation have access to health, education and social services;
	making up to 8.9 capital investment available from the Homelessness Directorate to help domestic violence survivors at risk of homelessness. Capital investment will normally be supported by the relevant local authority's Supporting People and Homelessness Strategies. This is backed up by a 2 million initiative in partnership with Comic Relief to help families in danger at home and at risk of homelessness because of violent partners.

Homelessness

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many homeless families were placed in bed and breakfast accommodation in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003 to date.

Barbara Roche: Information collected relates to homeless households in temporary accommodation, including bed and breakfast, at the end of each quarter.
	
		Homeless households in BB accommodation(inc. shared facility annexes) -- England
		
			  31 March 30 June 30 September 31 December 
		
		
			 2001 10,830 11,340 12,290 12,110 
			 2002 11,800 12,420 13,300 1  
		
	
	Note:
	1 Not yet available
	Since March 2002 the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has additionally collected information on families with children. It is estimated that at the end of each quarter of 2002 some 6,700 households in Bed  Breakfast were families with children and/or expectant mothers.
	Results for the fourth quarter 2002 will be published on the 13 March 2003.

Housing (Stoke-on-Trent)

George Stevenson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what resources for housing investment have been allocated to Stoke-on-Trent in each year since 199091.

Tony McNulty: The information requested, is in the table:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 199091 14.8 
			 199192 12.5 
			 199293 12.1 
			 199394 11.9 
			 199495 7.7 
			 199596 7.3 
			 199697 6.9 
			 199798 5.5 
			 199899 7.4 
			 19992000 8.2 
			 200001 12.1 
			 200102 16.5 
			 200203 16.7 
			 200304 16.3 
		
	
	The figures cover housing annual capital guidelines (which include an element to be financed from authorities' capital receipts); the major repairs allowance; support for disabled facilities grants; the Capital Receipts Initiative; and ring-fenced support for a number of housing schemes, e.g. Cash Incentive Schemes. Estate Action scheme funding is excluded. The reduction in 200304 mainly reflects a change in the local government capital finance system, which means the allocations no longer include an element assumed to be financed from authorities capital receipts.

Key Worker Housing

Alistair Burt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much of the money to be made available for key worker housing will be available for housing further education lecturers.

Tony McNulty: Funding is being provided through the Starter Home Initiative, and the Challenge Fund in 200304, for key worker housing. The priority groups for assistance are teachers in the statutory sector, police, nurses and other essential health workers.
	From 200405 funding for the provision of key worker housing for rent and home ownership will be integrated into the Housing Corporation's main affordable housing programme. Funding will be allocated for this in the light of advice from Regional Housing Boards. The Housing Corporation expects to invite bids for key worker housing schemes at the same time as bids for other affordable housing schemes, around September 2003.

Park Homes

Angela Browning: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what action has been taken by the Government subsequent to the Government Response to the Recommendations of the Park Homes Working Party in November 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The report on the Economics of the Park Homes Industry was published in October 2002, following the Working Party's recommendation that independent research be conducted to provide a comprehensive examination of the economics of the industry, and to consider options for change to the payment system. I am meeting the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Welfare of Park Home Owners on 4 December 2002.
	A sub-group of the Park Homes Working Party is reconvening a week later to discuss a number of other outstanding issues.

Parliamentary Questions

Angela Browning: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will answer question No. 82518, tabled by the hon. Member for Tiverton and Honiton on 19 November 2002.

Tony McNulty: The parliamentary question the hon. Member refers to was answered on 25 November 2002. However, it did not appear in the Official Report for this date. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has contacted the Official Reporter and arranged for the answer to appear in the bound and electronic volumes of Hansard. I attach a copy of the answer for the Member's information. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister liaises regularly with the Official Reporter to ensure that all parliamentary questions are answered accurately and on time.

Public Housing

Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what funds, in each of the last five years, have been provided to local authorities to make provision for replacement or repair of (a) leaking piping and (b) lead piping within public sector housing.

Tony McNulty: The resources provided to local authorities to help fund work on repairing, renovating or improving council housing are not linked to specific items of expenditure.

Telecommunications Masts

Anthony Steen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on how many occasions Articles (a) 4(1) and (b) 4(2) of the Permitted Development Order have been invoked by local authorities in Devon in each of the last three years in relation to telecommunications masts and telecommunications towers; and how many were approved by the Secretary of State to protect an interest of acknowledged importance.

Tony McNulty: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister knows of no Article 4 Directions issued by Devon local authorities on these types of development over the last three years. None have been sent to my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister for confirmation.

Telecommunications Masts

Anthony Steen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will discuss with Network Rail the location of the telecommunications mast planned to be erected in front of a historic monument in Totnes.

Tony McNulty: Railway undertakers have permitted development rights for development on their operational land, required in connection with the movement of traffic by rail. If, however, the local planning authority believe that such development should not take place without specific planning permission, it is open to them to apply to my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister for approval of a direction under Article 4 of the General Permitted Development Order.

Travellers

Julia Drown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans the Government has to include proposals for (a) increasing provision of official traveller sites and (b) a system of charging fees for site usage of traveller sites in the Housing Bill.

Tony McNulty: The information is as follows:
	(a) In formulating their development plans local planning authorities are encouraged to discuss Gypsies' accommodation needs with the Gypsies themselves, and with their representative bodies and support groups, with a view to identifying suitable locations for Gypsy sites in plans wherever possible.
	In addition, since 200102, we have provided a 17 million Gypsy Site Refurbishment Grant over three years. The Grant is aimed at refurbishing and extending the existing network of local authority Gypsy sites.
	(b) The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not have plans to introduce a system of charging fees for site usage. At present, this is the responsibility of local authorities.

Urban Areas

Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the 1991 Census definition was of urban areas; and what proportion of (a) the land area and (b) the population falls within such areas in each local authority.

Tony McNulty: The data requested for England and Wales has been placed in the Library of the House.
	The basis of the 1991 definition of urban area (developed by the then Department of Environment (DoE) and the Welsh Office), is land use that is irreversibly urban in nature and extends for 20 hectares or more with a minimum population of 1000. Separate urban areas of land are linked if less than 50 metres apart.
	Further information is available at www.statistics.gov.uk/geography/urban rural.asp

HEALTH

Animal By-products

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received in support of a requirement to stain low risk animal by-products prior to disposal.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 4 March 2003
	I am advised on matters of food safety by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
	In response to a public consultation on FSA proposals to require the staining or sterilisation of 'high risk' poultry by-products, carried out between December 2001 and January 2002, a number of representations were received from enforcement organisations and consumer groups in support of compulsory staining or sterilisation of 'low risk' animal by-products. At the same time representations were also received from businesses and industry organisations that were opposed to the compulsory staining or sterilisation of 'low risk' by-products.
	Following this consultation, the FSA Board reviewed the arguments for and against the staining or sterilisation of 'low risk' animal by-products. The Board concluded that 'low risk' animal by-products should remain outside the requirements for staining/sterilisation, as this would be disproportionate, and that little public health benefit would be achieved.
	More recently, the FSA has received further representations from two local authorities in support of a requirement to stain 'low risk' animal by-products.

Genetically Modified Food

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Food Standards Agency are spending on the GM public debate.

Hazel Blears: I refer my hon. Friend to the response I gave my hon. Friend, the Member for Nottingham, South (Alan Simpson) on 9 December 2002, Official Report, column 146W.

Accident and Emergency Admissions

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS patients were admitted to wards from accident and emergency departments within (a) one hour, (b) two hours, (c) three hours, (d) four hours and (e) more than four hours after being seen by a doctor or consultant in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.

David Lammy: The Department collects data waiting times in accident and emergency post decision to admit.
	The numbers of patients waiting two hours, between two and four hours and over four hours in the last four quarters are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Patients placed in bed in a wardwithin 2 hours of a decision to admitwithin 2 to 4 hours of a decision to admit Patients not placed in bed in a ward within 4 hours of a decision to admit 
		
		
			 Quarter 2, 200203 388,247 120,915 56,581 
			 Quarter 1, 200203 394,040 115,250 54,546 
			 Quarter 4, 200102 394,456 113,492 73,370 
			 Quarter 3, 200102 396,016 111,493 65,757

Accountancy Services

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost to his Department was for accountancy services in 2002.

David Lammy: The Department's accounting system does not collect information in the form requested. However, during 2002 the Department paid 4,860,616.31 to the four largest accountancy firms.

Acute Hospital Trust Budgets

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many acute hospital trusts are in discussions with his Department about how to deal with projected overspends or budget deficits for the current financial year.

John Hutton: In line with the Government's policy of shifting the balance of power, discussions about individual health organisations' financial positions are undertaken locally with relevant commissioners and if required the relevant strategic health authority.

Alcohol-related Illness

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS has spent on alcohol rehabilitation services in each of the past three years; what form these services take; and how these services will be funded and expanded to take account of the removal of exemptions in the Mental Health Act 1983.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 4 March 2003
	Funding for alcohol treatment services is spent via the general budgets of primary care trusts and local social service departments, which is consistent with provision being determined following a local consideration of need. This method of funding means that it is not possible to give details of the amount spent on the prevention and treatment of alcohol misuse. However, latest estimates indicate that 95 million per year is spent on alcohol treatment in England on a variety of types of treatment, and that most of this funding is provided by the Government. This estimate does not cover the cost of psychiatric in-patient treatment, which may be the first destination for people who need compulsory treatment.
	It is absolutely not our intention significantly to increase the numbers of people who are subject to compulsion by virtue of mental disorder. The definition of mental disorder in the draft Bill, coupled with the strict conditions that must be met before compulsory powers can be used, will ensure that only people for whom compulsory treatment is necessary can receive it. There should therefore be no need to make substantial provision for additional alcohol rehabilitation services.

Alcohol-related Illness

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the cost to the British economy of alcohol-related illnesses and deaths.

Hazel Blears: The national alcohol harm reduction strategy is currently being developed by the Cabinet Office Strategy Unit, and will include an analysis of the costs that alcohol misuse incurs for the English economy. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has therefore had no recent discussions with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer which touched on the cost to the British economy from alcohol related deaths and illnesses.

Asylum Seekers

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many asylum seekers have used the NHS in Greater London in the last 12 months; and what the equivalent figures were in May 1997;
	(2)  how many asylum seekers have, in the last 12 months, seen an NHS consultant; and how many had in May 1997.

Hazel Blears: A patient's immigration status is not routinely recorded by health care staff. Therefore it is not possible to quantify the use of national health service services by persons applying for asylum.

Biological Attacks

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what stocks of antibiotics have been made available for the treatment of infected populations in the event of a biological attack.

John Hutton: The Department has stockpiled enough oral antibiotics to treat various bacterial infections including anthrax, plague and tularaemia. This stockpile exists in addition to national health service stocks in hospitals and pharmacies.
	A proportion of the stock is packed into pods, to allow rapid distribution in an emergency. These pods are held at secure sites across the country to allow rapid delivery to any location within the country.

Breast Screening

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the trend in the number of women accepting their invitations for breast screening; and what action his Department is taking to encourage women to attend.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 10 March 2003
	Coverage and uptake of the national health service breast screening programme in England for the last five years for which figures are available is shown in the table.
	
		
			  199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102 
		
		
			 Coverage (women aged 50 to 64) 66.4 67.7 69.3 70.2 69.8 
			 Uptake (women aged 50 to 64) 75.4 76.2 75.6 75.3 75.6 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The coverage of the screening programme is the proportion of women resident who have had a test result at least once in the previous three years.
	2. The uptake of the screening programme is the proportion of women invited for screening for whom a screening test is recorded.
	Source:
	Statistical BulletinBreast Screening Programme, England
	Women invited to participate in the NHS breast screening programme need to understand the potential benefits and harm in doing so to be able to make an informed choice about whether or not they wish to participate. That is why we developed and launched new informed choice information leaflets in 2001, which are sent out with every invitation for breast screening.
	The NHS Cancer Plan stated that all primary care trusts should review their screening coverage rates and draw up plans to improve accessibility of screening for women in socially excluded and minority ethnic groups.

Cancelled Operations

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many cancelled operations in Greater London were carried out within (a) 4 weeks, (b) 8 weeks, (c) 12 weeks, (d) 16 weeks and (e) over 16 weeks of their original cancellation;
	(2)  how many operations in Greater London were (a) cancelled and (b) cancelled less than two days before the due date in each of the last 12 months.

John Hutton: Quarterly data are collected on the number of operations cancelled by the hospital for non-clinical reasons at the last minute (for example on the day patients are due to arrive or after arrival in hospital or on the day of their operation), the number of operations cancelled by the hospital for non-clinical reasons on the day of surgery and the number of patients who have not been treated within 28 days of a cancellation on the day of surgery
	Cancelled operations data at England level and by national health service trust and strategic health authority level are available in the Library and on the Department's website at: www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivitv/data.htm.
	Since 1 April 2002, the NHS Plan cancelled operations guarantee has been in place, which states that: if a patient's operation is cancelled by the hospital on the day of surgery for non-clinical reasons, the hospital will have to offer another binding date within a maximum of the next 28 days or fund the patient's treatment at the time and hospital of the patients choice.

Care Homes

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 24 February 2003, Official Report, column 26W, on care homes, if he will place in the Library an anonymised copy of the letter he sent to care homes who failed to pass on the free nursing care payment to residents.

Jacqui Smith: No. Further to my response to the hon. Member on 15 October 2002, Official Report, column 810W, that correspondence related specifically to the commercial or contractual activities of care homes.

Cataract Patients

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the London pilot scheme extending patient choice to cataract patients.

John Hutton: Initial survey work has been undertaken internally within the pilot scheme to obtain feedback from patients who have already received treatment under the cataract choice scheme in London. The feedback from this research has helped inform the ongoing design of the London scheme for other specialties and the planned national roll out across England.
	Patients themselves when being offered choice are making an individual assessment of the relative attractiveness of the scheme to them. So far for cataracts, of the 2,247 patients offered the choice of earlier treatment, 1,685 have accepted. This means that there has been a very high take up rate, 75 per cent., of those patients who already had been waiting for treatment.

Contraception

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which local area health authorities in England and Wales have authorised pharmacies to provide the morning-after pill free of charge under Patient Group Directives to (a) women over the age of 16 and (b) girls under the age of 16; and when authorisation was (i) given and (ii) withdrawn in each case.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not collected centrally. The decision whether to involve pharmacists in the provision of emergency contraception under patient group directions is for the relevant primary care trusts.

Contraception

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many locations not covered by the KT31 form have been authorised to distribute the morning-after pill in each local area health authority to (a) girls over the age of 16 and (b) girls under the age of 16 in each of the last five years.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not collected centrally. The decision about local provision of emergency contraception under patient group directions is for the relevant primary care trusts.

Court of Appeal Judgment

Bill Olner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what effect he estimates the Court of Appeal judgment of 29 January that a body has no legal personality will have on the NHS.

David Lammy: The judgment was concerned with whom proceedings should be initiated against in the case of an insurance claim against the estate of a person who has died. It does not concern the status of the dead body, and, as such, has no implications for the national health service.

Dead Bodies

Bill Olner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will require hospital trusts to set in place procedures to ensure that funeral staff are aware of infection that may be present in a dead body;
	(2)  what action he will take to ensure that funeral staff are properly advised of risk of infection arising from the removal of an infected body from hospital premises.

Hazel Blears: Trusts should already be aware of Safe working and the prevention of infection in the mortuary and post-mortem room, produced by the Health and Safety Commission's Health Services Advisory Committee* published this year. This guidance focuses on preventing and controlling infection risks in mortuary and post-mortem room practice in accordance with duties under health and safety law. It also covers arrangements for undertakers and ambulance staff based on departmental advice that undertakers need to know if a body is or may be infectious and it provides a specimen infection control notification sheet.
	The Department has had contact with funeral directors' professional associations on this issue previously and will keep them informed as appropriate of any new guidance from our advisory committees.
	* ISBN: 0 7176 2293 2, 2003.

Delayed Discharges

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds in Greater London were occupied by delayed discharge patients (a) at the latest available date and (b) in each of the last four quarters.

John Hutton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Total number of patients occupying acute beds whose transfer has been delayed in London Directorate of Health and Social Care
		
			  Number 
		
		
			  
			 200102  
			 Q3 1,108 
			 Q4 919 
			   
			 200203  
			 Q1 855 
			 Q2 808 
			 Q3 (Latest) 795

Delayed Discharges

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) cancelled operations and (b) delayed discharges there were in each NHS trust in England on the latest date for which figures are available.

John Hutton: Quarterly data are collected on the number of operations cancelled by the hospital for non-clinical reasons (i) at the last minute (i.e. on the day patients are due to arrive or after arrival in hospital or on the day of their operation) and (ii) on the day of surgery. Data are available in the Library and on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity/data requests.htm.
	Data on delayed discharges are collected on a quarterly and annual basis by survey. The information is at primary care trust level and the latest data for Quarter 3 200203 is available in the Library.

Delayed Discharges

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 13 February 2003, Official Report, column 949W, on delayed discharges, what changes were made to the Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc.) Bill following the responses received from the consultation.

Jacqui Smith: No changes were made to the Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc.) Bill as a result of the consultation responses. This is because the Bill was not drafted until after the consultation period, taking the responses into account.

Dentistry

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) practising dentists and (b) dentist practices there are in Greater London; and how many there were in May 1997.

John Hutton: 3,130 general dental service (GDS) dentists were practising dentistry in 1,478 practices in the London national health service region at 30 June 2002. This compares to 2,884 GDS dentists practising in 1,458 practices at 30 June 1997. 470 and 230 dentists were working in the hospital dental service (HDS) and community dental service (CDS) in the London NHS region at 30 September 2002, this compares with 450 and 240 dentists respectively at 30 September 1997. Also 43 dentists were working in the personal dental service (PDS) in the London NHS region at 30 September 2002 who were not also working in the GDS. The PDS began in October 1998. Information on the number of practices for those dental services is not available. Most of the dental services are provided on community or hospital trust premises.
	The number of GDS dentists includes principals on a strategic health authority list, their assistants and vocational dental practitioners in the GDS in England. The figures for the number of GDS dentists are on a headcount basis rather than a whole time equivalent basis and therefore take no account of part-time working.
	GDS dentists provide NHS dental services in high street practices and carry out the majority of NHS dental treatment in the United Kingdom. The proportion of NHS or private dental treatment that a GDS dentist provides is solely at the discretion of the dentist. GDS dentists are required to provide a full range of NHS treatment to maintain the oral health of the patients that are registered with them for capitation (children) or continuing care (adults).
	Patients wishing to register with a GDS dentist can obtain details of dentists accepting new patients in their area by contacting NHS Direct.

Dentistry

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentist vacancies there are in Greater London; and how many there were in May 1997.

John Hutton: General dental practitioners (GDPs) working in the national health service general dental services are self employed. They are free to choose and vary the location of their practice and their level of commitment to GDS dentistry.
	It is therefore not possible to quantify the number of vacancies.
	The number of GDPs continues to increase. There were 3,130 general dental service practitioners working in the London NHS region at 30 June 2002, of which 2,758 were principal dentists. This compares to 2,884 and 2,676 respectively in June 1997.

Dentistry

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of (a) adults and (b) children living in the Greater London area (i) are and (ii) were in May 1997 registered with an NHS dentist.

John Hutton: The available information is for the general dental service (GDS) in the London national health service region.
	On 31 May 2002 37.9 per cent. of adults and 50.3 per cent. of children were registered with a GDS dentist in the London NHS region. The registration rates for 31 May 1997 for adults and children were 49.1 per cent. and 51.1 per cent. respectively.
	Registrations now lapse if patients do not return to their dentists within 15 months. Registration rates will exclude patients who haven't been to their GDS dentist within the past 15 months and patients who receive dental treatment from other NHS dental services.
	The registration rates for 31 May 2002 and 31 May 1997 cannot be compared because of changes in the registration period which affected the registration numbers from November 1997. Registration figures do not include patients attending dental access centres and patients who are not registered.
	Patients seeking dental treatment or wishing to register with a GDS dentist can obtain details of dentists accepting new patients in their area by contacting NHS Direct.

Dentistry

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he will take to ensure provision of NHS dentistry in Sherbourne.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 7 March 2003
	The Government are committed to providing national health service dentistry for all who need and seek it. We recognise, however, that there are some areas of the country, including parts of Dorset, where it is difficult to find a NHS dentist.
	I am advised that North Dorset Primary Care Trust (PCT) and South West Dorset PCT have recently formed the West Dorset dental planning group, which held its first meeting in February. The planning group includes general dental practitioners and also represents community dentistry and is looking at cost-effective ways to support local NHS dentists and increase general access to NHS dental provision within the Dorset area.
	Osborne House, a new NHS dental practice in Yeovil, was opened in October 2002 and has recently registered 8,300 individuals within an overall capacity of 10,000. Some individuals living in the Sherborne area wishing to access NHS dental provision have been advised to register with Osborne House, which lies approximately six miles from Sherborne. Individuals within the Sherborne area who approach the Dorset Dental Helpline for routine dental treatment are currently also referred to general dental practitioners in Dorchester or Blandford Forum.
	In the forthcoming Health and Social Care Bill, the Government proposes to legislate for far-reaching reform of NHS dental services. It is proposed that each PCT be given a duty to provide or secure the provision of primary dental services in its area to the extent that it considers reasonable to do so and be given the financial resources to do this. This will give PCTs the flexibility to address access issues in their area. Dentists who contract with a PCT will have a secure income in return for making a longer-term commitment to the NHS.

Departmental Performance Report

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 27 January, Official Report, column 672W, on the Departmental Performance Report, when the Chief Executive's report will be reviewed; and when his Department will publish its service delivery agreements.

David Lammy: The Department's Autumn Performance Report has been published and can be found on the Department's website at: http://www.doh.gov.uk/nhsreport/autumn2002perfreport.pdf. Copies have also been placed in the Library.
	The Department has set out its approach to delivery in a key publication, 'Improvement, Expansion and Reform: The next three years Planning and Priorities Framework 200306', which can be found on the departmental website at: http://www.doh.gov.uk/ planning20032006/index.htm. This document fulfils the service delivery agreement requirements and is also available via Her Majesty's Treasury website.

Diabetes

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many diabetic patients with heart disease were given stents in percutaneous coronary intervention in the last five years.

Hazel Blears: No information is held on numbers of patients suffering from diabetes who have been given stents during percutaneous coronary angioplasty.

Food Labelling

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been allocated for developing the identity and materials for the five-a-day logo for use on food packaging and in related campaigns.

Hazel Blears: The total cost of developing the identity and materials for the five-a-day logo on food packaging and related campaigns is 125,000.

Food Standards Agency

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) staff and (b) inspection staff have been employed by the Food Standards Agency in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) was established in April 2000 on a United Kingdom-wide basis. It employed 594 staff at 31 March 2001 and 657 at 31 March 2002. The FSA's audit and veterinary meat hygiene adviser team of 11 staff carries out audit visits and reports on the performance of the meat hygiene service (MHS). The MHS employs 1,300 meat hygiene inspectors and meat technicians.

Free NHS Treatment

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what checks GPs have to carry out on their patients during registration with the GP practice, in order to discover whether they qualify for free NHS treatment.

John Hutton: Patients register with a general practitioner for general medical services by completing a GMS1 form. This asks for a name and address, previous address for the purposes of tracing previous medical records and whether the patient is from abroad. For personal medical services pilot providers, patients apply by making a signed application or presenting a medical card.

Free NHS Treatment

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the calculations that have been made of the cost to the NHS in (a) London and (b) England of treating patients who are not eligible for NHS services;
	(2)  how much money, in each of the last five years, has been paid to the NHS by people using the NHS who did not qualify for free NHS treatment and services.

John Hutton: The national health service is first and foremost for the benefit of people who live in the United Kingdom. A person who is not ordinarily resident in the UK, but who requires NHS hospital treatment is subject to the provisions of the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 1989, as amended (in 1991 (SI No: 438), 1994 (SI No: 1535), 2000 (SI No: 602), 2000 (SI No: 909)).
	These regulations place a duty on NHS trusts to establish the residential status of all patients. Where a NHS trust identifies a person who is not ordinarily resident in the UK and is not otherwise exempt from charge then the regulations provide for the making and recovery of a charge by the trust for most types of hospital treatment.

General Practitioners

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the latest average waiting time is for a GP appointment in Great London; and what the average waiting time for a GP appointment was in May 1997.

John Hutton: holding answer 6 March 2003
	The information requested is not collected or held centrally by the Department.

General Practitioners

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GP practices in Greater London have closed their books to new registrations; and what percentage of GP practices in Greater London these represent.

John Hutton: The information on closed lists is not held centrally.

General Practitioners

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GP vacancies there are in Greater London; and how many there were in May 1997.

John Hutton: The latest available information held centrally on general practitioner vacancies in London is for the 12 month period ending 28 February 2002. 280 unprincipled equivalent GP vacancies were reported in this period by health authorities within the Directorate of Health and Social Care London area.
	We did not carry out a GP vacancy survey prior to 2000.

Health Protection Agency

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Health Protection Agency will, from 1 April, be able to call for special investigations on outbreaks of infection.

Hazel Blears: We intend to establish the Health Protection Agency as a special health authority from 1 April 2003. Its functions will be specified in the Order which establishes it.

Health Protection Agency

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 6 February 2003, Official Report, column 443W, on the Health Protection Agency, when the board of the agency will be appointed; and how long it will take for staff to be identified as at risk of redundancy.

Hazel Blears: Subject to legislation it is intended that the non-executive members of the Board of the Health Protection Agency will be appointed on 1 April 2003. As indicated in the earlier answer, any staff at risk of redundancy cannot be identified until after the Board has agreed an organisational structure. The timetable will be for the Board to establish.

Hospital Building Maintenance

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding to NHS trusts has been allocated this year for (a) essential repairs to hospital buildings and (b) ensuring that fire and safety regulations are met.

John Hutton: National health service trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) receive operational capital to maintain the asset base of the organisation. NHS trusts and PCTs decide how to spend their operational capital on the competing priorities they have for investment. These priorities will include fire and health and safety compliance work and other capital investment, such as the replacement of equipment.
	767 million was allocated as operational capital in 200203. The recently announced three-year capital allocations provide 844 million for operational capital in 200304, 928 million for 200405 and 1,021 million for 200506.
	In addition, a proportion of both the strategic health authorities' strategic capital and the investment secured through the private finance initiative will go towards meeting fire and health and safety compliance.

Iraq

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals are designated to accept potential casualties from any conflict in Iraq.

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the number of beds in national health service hospitals which are being prepared in anticipation of casualties from hostilities in the Gulf; and what proposals he has to fund them.

John Hutton: There are no plans to ask hospitals to set aside specific beds in anticipation of any conflict in Iraq. We plan to operate a rotation of airports across the UK to which casualties will be returned and, as a result, make use of beds from a wider range of hospitals.

Iraq

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the impact on the NHS of the use of medical and nursing reservists in the event of conflict in Iraq.

John Hutton: Medical reservists are being called out from a number of national health service organisations across the country. The NHS bodies concerned are developing plans to deal with the loss of staff, and we are working closely with the Ministry of Defence to ensure that the effects of call outs are kept to a minimum.

Meat Imports

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many instances there have been since January 2003 of the detection of nitrofuran in poultry meat imported from Brazil; and what steps have been taken to respond to these.

Hazel Blears: Since January 2003, nitrofuran residues have been detected in three consignments of poultry meat imported from Brazil. In each case the consignment was destroyed.

Milk Tokens

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the likely impact on children's health of the proposal to remove the daily one pint milk token for low income families with children under five.

Hazel Blears: The proposals for the reform of the Welfare Food Scheme are underpinned by the evidence of the scientific review undertaken by the Panel on Child and Maternal Nutrition of the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy (COMA) in 1999. The review concluded that the scheme does not meet the wider nutritional needs of pregnant women, mothers and young children due to its reliance solely upon milk provisions.
	The reform proposals, which were published for consultation in October 2002, involve broadening the range of foods under the scheme to include fruit, vegetables, and cereal-based foods, in addition to milk.

Mixed-sex Wards

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospital trusts in England operate mixed-sex wards.

John Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on 14 January 2003, Official Report, column 24WS.
	We have no plans to publish the names of trusts which have or have not met the standards for mixed-sex accommodation set in January 1997.

MRI Scanners (Animals)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has issued guidelines on the use of MRI scanners on animals; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Department has not issued specific guidelines on the use of national health service Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners on animals, but the local rules of any MRI unit would ensure that scanning of animals did not contravene either health and safety or infection control policies.
	The Medical Devices Agency publication, Guidelines for Magnetic Resonance Equipment in Clinical Use (Dec-02), is available to all NHS hospitals and these guidelines cover important aspects of MRI equipment in clinical use, with specific reference to safety.
	Scanning of animals is very rarely undertaken in most NHS hospitals, but when it does occur, it usually takes place outside of routine working hours so that patient lists are not in any way disrupted.

Multiple Clinical Symptoms

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what help is available to diagnose and prevent people suffering from multiple clinical symptoms.

Hazel Blears: General medical practitioners are the first point of contact for most people seeking help with symptoms of ill health, regardless of their number or cause. Decisions about treatment or onward referral are then taken in the light of an individualised assessment of needs, the evidence for effective treatment, the wishes of the patient and the resources available.

National Programme for IT

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the recommendations and conclusions of the report commissioned by the Department of Health to assess the capacity of the supplier market in relation to the National Programme for IT.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 10 March 2003
	I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave him on Thursday 6 March, Official Report, columns 121314W.

NHS Consultants

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the National Assembly for Wales' Secretary for Health concerning NHS consultants' contracts in Wales.

John Hutton: Following the announcement of the British Medical Association referendum on 31 October 2002, no direct discussions have taken place between my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State and the Minister for Health and Social Services in the National Assembly for Wales.
	However, officials from the four United Kingdom Health Departments have continued to keep in contact to ensure that developments in each country take place within a consistent framework based on the original objectives of contract reform, namely to provide better rewards for consultants who give most to the National Health Service and to support service reform.

NHS Consultants

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the BMA concerning NHS consultants' contracts in Wales.

John Hutton: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State has had no discussions with the British Medical Association concerning consultants' contracts in Wales. This is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

NHS Finance

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the budget overspend was in each year since 1997 in each NHS trust in England.

John Hutton: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

NHS Fraud

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimates he has made of the level of fraud in the NHS.

John Hutton: The National Health Service Counter Fraud Service (NHS CFS) has an ongoing programme of risk measurement exercises designed to reveal levels of losses and, through repeated exercises, reduction in such losses. Phase one of these exercises concentrated on patient fraud. The following table detail the results.
	Phase two of the programme will focus on contractor fraud within the NHS. As the measurement programme extends, it will enable NHS CFS to accurately assess the totality of NHS fraud.
	
		Pharmaceutical patient fraud --  million
		
			 Year data selected Fraud losses 
		
		
			 199899 117 
			 19992000 69 
			   
			 Dental patient fraud  
			 19992000 40.3 
			 200001 30 
			   
			 Optical Patient Fraud  
			 19992000 13.25 
			 200102 10.17 
		
	
	Total patient fraud losses have reduced from approximately 170 million to 109.17 million per year, a reduction of 36 per cent., since the creation of NHS CFS in 1998.

NHS Funding

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what basis his Department requires each NHS trust to submit a year-end cash balance that equates to the opening balance when the trust was established.

John Hutton: holding answer 5 March 2003
	Section 9(1) of the NHS and Community Care Act 1990, as amended by section 15 of the 1999 Health Act, requires each national health service trust to be set up with originating capital. This must be an amount that represents the excess of the value of the assets transferred to the trust over the value of the liabilities transferred. Originating capital takes
	the form of public dividend capital.
	Under section 9(7) of the NHS and Community Care Act 1990, the Secretary of State may, with the consent of Her Majesty's Treasury, determine the terms on which public dividend capital is issued. In accordance with a Determination made on 16 November 1999, the Secretary of State may require payments from the NHS trust in discharge of part (but not all) of its initial public dividend capital and in respect of all of its additional public dividend capital.
	In practice, capital repayments of public dividend capital are required, where appropriate, to reduce excess end of year cash balances to an acceptable level. Repayment is generally required where an end of year cash balance is forecast to exceed 0.3 per cent. of turnover. There is no specific requirement to reduce cash balances to the level when the trust was established.

NHS Funding

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to (a) earmark, (b) hypothecate and (c) ring-fence funding for NHS Trusts.

John Hutton: Revenue allocations to primary care trusts (PCTs) for 200304 to 200506 were announced on 11 December 2002. None of the growth money has been identified for specific purposes. PCTs will be able to use these extra resources to deliver on both national and local priorities.
	National health service trusts receive the bulk of their revenue funding from commissioning by primary care trusts. The remainder is linked to contracts for medical staff education services and for research and development.

Smoking

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS hospitals operate a no smoking policy; and what steps the Government are taking to reduce smoking on all NHS sites.

Hazel Blears: No data is held centrally on this issue but many national health service trusts have already banned smoking in their hospitals and hospital grounds and the Government have set milestones for implementing smoking policies across the NHS as part of the national service framework on coronary heart disease.
	The Government are currently considering measures they can take to obtain a clear and up-to-date picture of the current situation across the NHS and to assist in determining what further action should be taken.
	Any decisions on further action will need to be taken against the background that the purchase and smoking of cigarettes is not illegal in this country.

Smoking

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what policy his Department has adopted on smoking in the workplace.

Hazel Blears: The Department recently reviewed its internal policy on smoking in the workplace. With effect from 1 April 2003, smoking will not be allowed anywhere within buildings which the Department manages.

NHS Interpreters

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many interpreters are used by the NHS to assist staff working with patients.

John Hutton: Data on the number of interpreters used by the National Health Service to assist staff working with patients is collected as part of the broader clerical and administrative function, which includes several other staff groups. As a result, it is not possible to identify the number of interpreters separately.

Orthopaedic Operations

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health further to his answer of 26 February 2003, Official Report, column 639W, what type of orthopaedic operations were carried out on NHS patients in Germany and France.

John Hutton: 153 orthopaedic patients were referred to France and Germany as part of the overseas treatment pilot project. Of these, 131 were major joint procedures, 17 were intermediate day cases, and five were hands and feet procedures.

Overseas Trips

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the overseas trips made by himself and other members of his ministerial team in 2002; and what the (a) purpose and (b) cost was in each case.

David Lammy: I refer the hon. Member to the response that was given by my hon. Friend, the Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander), on 2 January 2003, Official Report, column 334W.

Pharmacists

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to increase the number of people becoming qualified and taking up pharmacist roles.

John Hutton: There were 258 or 15 per cent. more undergraduate students starting pharmacy training in 2001 than there were in 1997. Furthermore, new schools of pharmacy will provide additional graduates from 2007 onwards.
	Between September 1997 and 2001, there has been an increase of 2,140 or 26 per cent. in the number of qualified pharmacists employed in the national health service. As at 30 September 2001 there were 10,630 qualified pharmacists employed in the NHS.
	The Government are looking to achieve an increase in staff numbers across all scientific, therapeutic and technical staff groups, including hospital pharmacists. Delivering the NHS Plan published in April 2002 set out the Government's latest forecast for growth. By 2008, we expect the NHS to have net increase over the September 2001 staff census of at least 30,000 therapists and scientists. This includes pharmacists. This will include increasing the number of preregistration pharmacy training places in NHS hospitals. Over 550 were planned for 200203at least 60 per cent. more than were available 10 years ago.
	The Department of Health published a Pharmacy Workforce and Training Working Group Report in 1997. It outlined the actions necessary for the NHS to increase training places, to review skill mix and working practices, to reduce demand, and to improve the recruitment and retention of pharmacy staff. Many local initiatives have been taken as a result. Following this up, the Department has taken a number of actions to help improve the recruitment and retention of hospital pharmacy staff. These include the publication of the Improving Working Lives for Pharmacy document in July 2001, extension of NHS Careers to pharmacy staff, the development of a hospital pharmacists1 recruitment advertisement and targeted higher than average pay rises.
	Community pharmacy employers have also taken action. Some pharmacy multiples have taken pro-active steps to increase staffing, eg recruiting pharmacists from abroad and by moving staff around.

Pharmacists

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many qualified pharmacy staff there are in (a) Coventry, (b) the West Midlands and (c) the UK.

David Lammy: The information is in the table. Figures for the United Kingdom are not available, so data for England have been used.
	
		NHS Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): Qualified scientific therapeutic and technical staff within the pharmacy area of work in the Coventry Health Authority area, West Midlands regional office area and England as at 30 September 2001
		
			  Whole-time equivalents Headcount 
		
		
			 England 9,372 10,633 
			 of which:   
			 West Midlands 850 993 
			 of which:   
			 Coventry HA 61 66 
		
	
	Notes:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest whole number
	Source:
	Department of Health non-medical workforce census

Primary Care Trusts

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of and how many PCG chief executives continued their employment after 31 October 2002 as a chief executive of a PCT.

John Hutton: Information on the proportion of and how many primary care group chief executives continued their employment after 31 October 2002 as a chief executive of a primary care trust is not available centrally.

Primary Care Trusts

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff are employed within each primary care trust (a) within a general practice covered by that PCT and (b) without a general practice covered by that PCT.

John Hutton: The information on general practitioners and staff employed in general practices, by current primary care trust (PCT) area at September 2001 has been placed in the Library.
	The information shows staff directly employed by every PCT that was in place at September 2001. These include community health staff such as district nurses and health visitors. All PCTs with a nil return were set up after that date.

Private Health Schemes

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 29 January 2003, Official Report, column 901W, on private health schemes, whether his Department places restrictions on national health service bodies offering private patient services.

John Hutton: By law, national health service trusts and primary care trusts may offer private patient services only to the extent that doing so does not to any significant extent interfere with the performance by the trust of its functions or of its obligations under NHS contracts.

Public Service Agreements

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many public service agreements the Department (a) has met and (b) is on course to meet in the autumn.

David Lammy: The Department has recently published a supplement to its December 2002 chief executive's report to the national health service.
	This report provides information on autumn performance with meeting public service agreement targets and includes details of those targets that have been met or are on course to be met.

Public Service Agreements

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Department has published an autumn performance report to show progress against the Department's PSA targets; and what reports it plans to publish before spring to show progress against PSA targets.

David Lammy: The Department has recently published a supplement to its December 2002 chief executive's report to the national health service. This provides a fuller account of autumn performance against the Department's public service agreement targets.
	The Department also plans to publish its 2003 departmental report in late April to show progress against its PSA targets.

Supplier Payments

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued to trusts and PCTs on deadlines for paying suppliers.

John Hutton: holding answer 4 March 2003
	National Health Service trusts and primary care trusts are required to comply with the Confederation of British Industry's better payment practice code target of paying 95 per cent., of undisputed invoices within contract terms or 30 days where no terms have been agreed.

Untoward Incidents (Health Trusts)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many serious untoward incidents were recorded in each hospital trust last year.

John Hutton: The Department does not collect this information from individual trusts.
	The Government have established the National Patient Safety Agency to improve the safety of national health service patient care by promoting an open and fair culture and by introducing a national reporting and learning system for adverse events. The system will be rolled out across the NHS from summer 2003. This will, in time, enable us to understand the true nature and extent of medical errors in the NHS and take action to prevent them being repeated. The reporting system will be anonymous and confidential in order to encourage local reporting and thereby enable the NHS to learn as much as possible to make systems safer. It will not therefore identify the number of incidents occurring in an individual hospital.

Waiting Times

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in Greater London have been waiting more than 13 weeks to see a consultant.

John Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave him on Friday 7 March, Official Report, column 1271W.

Waiting Times

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in Greater London have been waiting (a) up to six months, (b) 612 months, (c) 1215 months and (d) 15 or more months for hospital treatment in each of the last 12 months.

John Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave him on 5 March 2003, Official Report, columns 112324W.

Waiting Times

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the latest average waiting time for in-patient treatment is (a) in Greater London and (b) in England; and what the figures were in May 1997.

John Hutton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Estimated average in-patient waiting time, all specialties
		
			  Median wait (months) 
			 Commissioner based March 1997 December 2002 
		
		
			 London 3.49 2.92 
			 England 3.05 2.88

Waiting Times

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for orthopaedic surgery is (a) in England and (b) in Gloucestershire; what steps he is taking to reduce these times; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 7 March 2003
	The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Trauma and orthopaedicsaverage waiting time for inpatient admission at 31 December 2002
		
			  Average waiting time (months) 
		
		
			 Provider-based  
			 England 3.92 
			 Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust 3.21 
			   
			 Commissioner-based  
			 England 3.92 
			 Cheltenham and Tewkesbury PCT 3.10 
			 West Gloucestershire PCT 2.69 
			 Cotswold and Vale PCT 2.88 
			 South Gloucestershire PCT 4.74 
		
	
	Source:
	DH Central returns KH07 and QF01
	One of the greatest performance challenges of the National Health Service is to improve the speed at which patients can gain access to orthopaedic services. We are addressing long waits for orthopaedics through the NHS Modernisation Agency's Action On Orthopaedic programme. The programme aims to significantly improve this access to care by working with local health communities, developing and sharing good practice.
	The Gloucester Hospitals Orthopaedic Departments are one of 37 trusts in the NHS Modernisation Agency's Programme, Clinical PrioritiesFirst And Fast, within which trusts are redesigning their systems so that all clinically urgent cases are admitted within six weeks and all others are admitted ahead of the Governments target. The programme has just started and is intended to run until next spring.